Male Consort Upgrade System

by Usui Takumii

not mine, ckanda writes, beware bl. Total: 247 Chapters.

21. 191 to 200

A young eunuch cautiously walked into the hall. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the palace maids taking care of General Lu have sent a message. General Lu and the others have regained consciousness."

"Oh? Summon all four of them, as well as Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun, to see me," Huangfu Yuchen put down his pen.

"Yes."

Deng Mande poured warm water into a hand washing basin and handed it over.

Huangfu Yuchen washed his hands, picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, slowly contemplating what else needed to be done before he went into seclusion.

"General Yang, General Lu and General Jun are here—"

Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, Jun Xiang, Lin Zhang, and Jiang Ting entered the hall together, bowing to Huangfu Yuchen.

"We, your humble subjects, pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Huangfu Yuchen had all the attendants leave the hall, even the shadow guards were dismissed. Only Deng Mande was left.

Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, and the others felt their hearts skip a beat. His Majesty must be about to discuss something of great secrecy.

Huangfu Yuchen glanced sharply at Lu Fei, Jun Xiang, Lin Zhang, and Jiang Ting. "Lu Fei, you four must already know what happened to you."

Lu Fei replied, "Your Majesty, regarding this matter, the four of us have no memory. We only heard that on that day, we were protecting Yan Guiqing during the hunting, and encountered a fierce beast. We got injured while protecting Yan Guiqing."

They all sensed something strange in this matter; it was possible that they got injured while protecting Yan Guiqing, but the fact that all four of them lost their memory about the incident was too strange.

Huangfu Yuchen nodded, "That's correct. You four were injured because of Yan Guiqing, which partially crippled your martial arts." As he spoke, he observed the four men closely, not missing any subtle changes in their expressions. If they showed any resentment towards Yan Ge, they wouldn't qualify for cultivation.

Lu Fei and the others were startled and knelt down simultaneously.

"We pledge our unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty and Yan Guiqing. We are willing to give our lives and serve Your Majesty and Yan Guiqing. Our martial arts might be partially crippled now, but if Your Majesty and Yan Guiqing don't abandon us, we will continue to serve you wholeheartedly!"

Huangfu Yuchen was very pleased with their response. "Get up. On that day, one of my and Yan Guiqing's arch-enemies showed up and harmed Yan Guiqing. He used a secret technique to control you four and attack Yan Guiqing. That's why you have no memory of the incident. Yan Guiqing didn't want to kill you, so he had no choice but to forcibly seal off your five senses, which cause a regression in your martial arts. Regardless of your future efforts, your cultivation won't recover."

Only now did Lu Fei and the others feel sorrowful. "We thank Yan Guiqing for saving our lives."

Huangfu Yuchen continued, "Because of this, Yan Guiqing feels guilty towards you four. I also acknowledge your unwavering loyalty to me, so I intend to lead you onto a different path."

Lu Fei and the others were puzzled. A different path?

Huangfu Yuchen picked up a delicate jade bottle in emerald green. "That path is cultivation. Cultivation means… once you reach the highest level, your strength will be a hundredfold stronger than before, or even more, and even ascending to immortality won't be a mere fantasy."

Everyone present wore a look of astonishment. Ascend to immortality? They had no doubt that Huangfu Yuchen wasn't lying because there was simply no need to.

Gao Feng and Gao Yun had witnessed His Majesty and Yan Guiqing's peculiar skills in the past, but they never thought about immortality. At this moment, they were no less surprised than Yang Zhuo and the others. However, the two of them were the quickest to calm down and exchanged a joyful look.

"These are the Foundation Building Pills needed for cultivation. They can help you remove impurities from your body and expand your meridians." Huangfu Yuchen's gaze then fell on Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun. "Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun are my confidants, so they also have a share."

"Thank you for Your Majesty's trust. Your humble subjects will forever follow Your Majesty!" Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun knelt down to express their gratitude.

Lu Fei and the others followed suit.

"We also pledge our unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty!"

Deng Mande didn't hear his name and felt a little disappointed. However, he was energized knowing that His Majesty included him in this matter, it was already a great honor.

"Rise." Huangfu Yuchen said, "But, you need to understand one thing. The Foundation Building Pills I have are limited, and I can't take care of your family members. As your cultivation advances, you will forever retain your youthful appearance, but you will have to witness your loved ones age and even pass away. Of course, if you choose to stop cultivating halfway, you will age gradually and won't ascend."

Hearing this, Yang Zhuo and the others gradually calmed down from their excitement. As men, they yearned for great power, but what about their family members?

Huangfu Yuchen continued, "So, I'll give you some time to consider. Come back the day after tomorrow."

"Now, if there's nothing else, you may leave."

"Yes, Your humble subjects take their leave."

Yang Zhuo and the others left the Tenglong Palace with complex emotions. Tonight, several of them might not be able to sleep.

Only then did Huangfu Yuchen turn to Deng Mande.

"Deng Mande, I have also prepared a Foundation Building Pill for you."

Deng Mande's eyes lit up. Realizing that His Majesty hadn't finished speaking, he knelt down promptly without saying a word.

"However, your constitution is weaker, and even if you start cultivating now, it will be challenging to achieve significant results. It's not that you can't cultivate, but your progress will be slower than others, and the danger when encountering the tribulation will be greater. Take your time to consider it."

Deng Mande knocked his head on the ground, tears flowing from his eyes as he spoke resolutely, "Your Majesty, I don't need to consider. I want to cultivate too. Since childhood, I've been following Your Majesty, and forgive my impudence, I see you as family. As long as Your Majesty and Yan Guiqing don't mind, I'm willing to serve you and Yan Guiqing forever."

Huangfu Yuchen looked at him with emotion, nodding, "Since you've chosen this arduous path, I won't say much more. Rise. When they come the day after tomorrow, I'll give you the Foundation Building Pill."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace."

Huangfu Yuchen looked at the eight small jade bottles on the tray. Xiao Ge had given him eight Foundation Building Pills in total, he hoped they would all be worth it.

Outside the palace, in the First Company, Yan Ge's thoughts were also revolving around the Foundation Building Pills. Regardless of whether Huangfu Yuhu was Meng Xiaohan or not, he absolutely couldn't give him the Foundation Building Pill. This was also why he only gave eight pills to Huangfu Yuchen. Based on his understanding of Huangfu Yuchen, he would undoubtedly give these eight pills to Lu Fei, Jun Xiang, Lin Zhang, Jiang Ting, Yang Zhuo, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, and Deng Mande.

Unfortunately, Huangfu Yuhu had already left the capital, otherwise, he could try to secretly monitor him.

Two days later, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen waited together in the Tenglong Palace for Yang Zhuo and the others.

After a difficult mental journey, the temperament of Yang Zhuo and the others had changed considerably, undoubtedly showing more determination than before.

Yan Ge was sure that even if they chose not to cultivate, except for Lu Fei and the other four, the martial arts of the rest would easily break through their bottlenecks.

"So, have you all considered it?"

Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, and Jun Xiang knelt down together, "Your humble subjects are willing to cultivate."

Yang Zhuo, Lin Zhang, and Jiang Ting followed suit.

Yang Zhuo said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your kindness, but this subordinate can't bear to leave his family. Please forgive me."

Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting also said, "We, your subordinates, also thank Your Majesty for your kindness. Like General Yang, we can't abandon our families. Please forgive us, Your Majesty."

Huangfu Yuchen knew that Lu Fei and Jun Xiang were not yet married. Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting were older than Yang Zhuo. Lin Zhang's son was already eight years old, and Jiang Ting's son and daughter were seven and four years old, respectively.

"You value your families and kinship. What fault is there?" Huangfu Yuchen said, "Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting were injured for the sake of my beloved. The Foundation Building Pill will still be given to you. It can repair your meridians, and you will continue to serve me in the future."

Lin Zhang and Jiang Ting were overjoyed and knelt down to express their gratitude.

Huangfu Yuchen gave them the Foundation Building Pills, saying, "After taking the Foundation Building Pill, you will experience intense pain. Find a safe and secluded place to take it later."

"Yes."

"Alright, General Yang, you may rise."

"I take my leave."

After Yang Zhuo and the other two left, Huangfu Yuchen gave the Foundation Building Pill to Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, Jun Xiang, and Deng Mande. Then he placed his palm on their foreheads, imparting the first two levels of the "Heavenly Demon Annihilation Technique" into their consciousness.

Upon receiving the cultivation technique, Gao Feng and the others realized the profound and miraculous nature of cultivation. They were deeply moved and became even more respectful to Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge. They all lowered their heads in unison, "We pledge our unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty and Yan Guiqing!"

Huangfu Yuchen explained some important points about cultivation and then dismissed the five of them.

He and Yan Ge also needed to prepare for seclusion.

He handed the remaining bottles of Foundation Building Pills to Yan Ge, "Xiao Ge, keep these. We will enter seclusion tomorrow."

"Alright."

Early in the morning, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen arrived at Mingxia Mountain. They quickly focused their minds and entered a state of meditation. As the method from the Fengyun Immortal Records began to operate, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth seemed to respond to the call, rushing over in competition.

The Zhantian Vine that had been serving as a crown on Yan Ge's head sensed something and wriggled its body, starting to absorb the spiritual energy.

The spiritual energy was refined into true qi, rapidly revolving in Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's dantians, and the vortex grew larger. Time passed, seasons flowed. The true qi gathered together, compressed bit by bit, ultimately condensing into a golden round pill the size of a chicken egg…

In the morning court, the civil and military ministers, as well as the six department heads, were discussing important matters.

"Grand Tutor You, Prime Minister Wen, and Prime Minister Wu, could you come up with a plan?" The Minister of Revenue, Chen Guowei, paced back and forth anxiously. "Prince Dai has sent an urgent report. Yongzhou urgently needs two million taels of silver for disaster relief. We've received the report for several days, and we can afford to delay, but the common people in Yongzhou can't afford it!"

Grand Tutor You stroked his beard, "Without the Emperor here, we dare not make decisions hastily."

"The Emperor has been away for over a month. Where did he go, does Grand Tutor You know?" Prime Minister Wu asked.

Grand Tutor You shook his head, "He travels with Yan Guiqing in disguise most of the time."

"Yan Guiqing ?" Chen Guowei looked at Yan Xiaojing upon hearing this.

Yan Xiaojing replied helplessly, "I don't know more than you do."

Jiang Gan said, "Minister Chen's concerns are not unfounded. If we can't send the disaster relief silver as soon as possible, the people in Yongzhou will suffer."

Prime Minister You thought of the consequences if the disaster relief silver couldn't be sent in time and became anxious, "Although His Majesty instructed us to prioritize urgent matters, he didn't mention the disaster relief silver. Two million taels is not a small sum, and if anything goes wrong…"

"That's true." All the ministers began to ponder.

Suddenly, a calm and majestic voice rang out in the air.

"What has happened?"

They turned around and saw that the Emperor and Yan Guiqing had appeared in the hall at some point. After not seeing them for days, their aura was even more intimidating. Just a casual glance made them feel a chill in their hearts.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live, Your Majesty!" They all knelt down and greeted.

"Rise." Huangfu Yuchen pulled Yan Ge to the seat above and sat down. "Why is everyone so anxious?"

When the Emperor appeared, the officials had a backbone.

Chen Guowei hurriedly explained the matter in its entirety.

"Two million taels?" Yan Ge was surprised. "Has it already been sent?" If Huangfu Yuhu was indeed Meng Xiaohun, he couldn't be too careless. If the Centipede Organization dared to rob the disaster relief silver, he wouldn't know where to find regret medicine.

"Not yet. We were just discussing the matter. Two million taels is not a small sum, so we need Your Majesty's decision," Chen Guowei said.

"Two million taels," Huangfu Yuchen frowned. "The cold in Yongzhou is so severe that it requires two million taels of silver for disaster relief?" The treasury of Great Han was currently very abundant, but that money was all he and his baby had worked hard to save, especially his baby. He had put in a lot of effort. Therefore, every expenditure had to be carefully considered.

"Previously, when severe cold occurred in Yongzhou, they only spent five hundred thousand taels for disaster relief. It seems that this year's situation is indeed more severe," Grand Tutor You said.

Yan Ge listened carefully to see how Huangfu Yuchen planned to handle the situation, afraid he would be too generous and give away the silver.

After a moment of contemplation, Huangfu Yuchen said, "Send fifty thousand taels first to provide immediate relief. At the same time, wait for further reports. Prepare the remaining one hundred and fifty thousand taels, and if there is an urgent need, send it out immediately. This matter is of great importance, and the Ministry of War must arrange for proper protection during the transportation."

The Minister of Revenue and Minister of War simultaneously responded, "Yes!"

Yan Ge also felt somewhat relieved. He had underestimated Yuchen. Yuchen was still relatively cautious when it came to dealing with the treasury. However, he couldn't do nothing knowing that Huangfu Yuhu was suspicious.

"Yuchen, how many people did Prince Dai take when he left?"

The ministers pretended not to hear Yan Guiqing address the Emperor directly by name.

Huangfu Yuchen replied, "There were twenty generals and five hundred imperial guards."

Yan Ge felt it was easy to handle and suggested, "As far as I know, there are thirteen cities and forty-six counties under Yongzhou, not to mention numerous villages and towns. I am afraid that Prince Dai alone might find it difficult to control the entire province. It would be better to send him more people with this disaster relief escort just in case."

Huangfu Yuchen transmitted his thoughts with some discomfort, "Why do you care so much about him? You rarely bothered with Yuhu in the past."

Yan Ge knew Huangfu Yuchen was jealous, and he didn't you whether to laugh or cry. "I care about the money!"

Huangfu Yuchen nodded seriously and said out loud, "Xiao Ge makes a valid point."

The ministers agreed with approving nods.

Huangfu Yuchen thought about the Centipede organization that targeted officials and nobles, and his eyes darkened. He said, "Let's send a thousand imperial guards to escort the disaster relief silver, with General Wei Hao leading the team. Xiao Ge, who do you think is suitable to assist Prince Dai?"

Yan Ge replied, "It would be best to trouble Prime Minister Wen to go there in person." Jiang Gan was loyal only to Huangfu Yuchen and the most suitable candidate. Besides his father Yan Xiaojing, Jiang Gan was the first person unrelated to Huangfu Yuhu.

He continued, "As you all know, when disasters occur, refugees become restless and it's easy for conflicts to arise, potentially leading to great calamities. Prime Minister Wen is eloquent and holds a high position; his presence will stabilize people's minds. With him cooperating with Prince Dai, they will complement each other and achieve greater success."

Huangfu Yuchen looked at him unexpectedly and then smiled, "I didn't expect Xiao Ge to be so insightful. Prime Minister Wen, what do you think?"

Jiang Gan, also known as "Fox," was surprised when Yan Ge called his name but he quickly responded, "This humble official is honored to be valued by His Majesty and Yan Guiqing. I will do my best to fulfill the mission."

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Good. I will appoint you as the assisting envoy. After arriving in Yongzhou, report back as soon as possible. If needed, I will immediately send the second batch of disaster relief silver."

"Yes!"

Huangfu Yuchen then said, "Quickly confirm the route for escorting the disaster relief silver. Only a few should be aware of it."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Jiang Gan replied solemnly.

"For this long journey to Yongzhou, I will send twenty shadow guards to accompany you."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. I am grateful and humbled!"

"You may prepare to depart as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

After everyone left, Huangfu Yuchen embraced Yan Ge and asked, "What are you thinking?"

"Just thinking about food," Yan Ge replied after snapping back to reality.

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, "Alright, let's go to Liuxian Pavilion and have hotpot."

They had Xiao Changzi prepare a carriage, and the two of them left the palace. Xiao Changzi would be serving Huangfu Yuchen since Deng Mande had gone into seclusion.

Yan Ge lay on Huangfu Yuchen's lap pretending to doze off, but in reality, he was contemplating. If Huangfu Yuhu was not Meng Xiaohun, there wouldn't be any problem sending Jiang Gan to Yongzhou.

If Huangfu Yuhu was indeed Meng Xiaohun, Jiang Gan's appearance would surely raise suspicion, but Yan Ge wasn't worried about Huangfu Yuhu creating trouble in front of Huangfu Yuchen.

He and Huangfu Yuhu were like two players in a game. He didn't dare to tell Huangfu Yuchen about his suspicions of Huangfu Yuhu, and Huangfu Yuhu didn't dare to easily frame him in front of Yuchen. They both understood that Yuchen cared for both of them, and any carelessness could lead to disaster. So, one could say that his( Yan Ge) move was both daring and clever. As for Jiang Gan, there was no need for specific instructions. After arriving in Yongzhou, he would personally investigate the disaster situation, not because he didn't trust Huangfu Yuhu but because it was his usual way of doing things.

Huangfu Yuchen looked at Yan Ge's head and gently stroked his hair. Although Yan Ge rarely interfered in political affairs, he didn't mind his actions today and wasn't surprised. However, he felt that something was wrong. But, out of trust in Yan Ge, he readily agreed to his suggestion without asking for the reasons. As long as his beloved was happy, he was happy too. If not for the unique position of the Duanmu family and their loyalty, he would have considered formally making Yan Ge his empress, allowing him to legitimately manage the affairs of the kingdom. However, he knew that Yan Ge probably wouldn't want that.

*The Duanmu family is the current Empress's family.

If Yan Ge knew what he was thinking, he would probably vomit blood from depression. Yan Ge wanted it, he really wanted it! Because only by becoming empress could he obtain the final level of the cultivation technique!

However, the matter of the final technique is for another time.

The cold wind lifted the curtains of the carriage, and Huangfu Yuchen reached out to pull them up when he saw snowflakes drifting down from the sky.

"Baby, look, it's snowing."

"Really?" Yan Ge immediately sat up and looked out of the window with a smile. "This snow is quite timely. Snowy days are perfect for hot pot. However, I hope it won't be too heavy and affect the delivery of disaster relief silver."

Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the sky. "It shouldn't be heavy."

"Boss, young master, we've arrived," Xiao Changzi said from outside the carriage.

When Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen appeared at the entrance of Liuxian Pavilion, the customers inside the restaurant felt their imposing presence and looked towards them.

Manager Yuan had a sudden realization and immediately guessed their identities. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Two guests, please follow me to a private room."

Huangfu Yuchen took a couple of steps forward, then suddenly stopped and looked sharply at a woman sitting alone at a table in a corner.

Su Qianqian was taken aback. She never expected Huangfu Yuchen's perception to be so keen! Her master had given her countless instructions to be cautious in the capital and not reveal any clues. If she had known, she wouldn't have been greedy for Liuxian Pavilion's food.

With no time to think, she swiftly attempted to escape.

However, Huangfu Yuchen couldn't let her go easily after finally grasping a lead on the Centipede organization. He immediately teleportated in front of her.

Si Qianqian was alarmed and hurriedly tried to escape backward, but Yan Ge had already appeared behind her. He raised his right foot and kicked her away, causing her to crash into a pillar and spit out a mouthful of blood.

The customers In the restaurant were both surprised and startled by the imposing aura of Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen, temporarily forgetting to flee.

Huangfu Yuchen caught Si Qianqian by her delicate neck, his voice cold as he said, "You're not bad; I admire your courage." He then used a body restraint technique to immobilize her.

"You..?" The customers were once again astonished. Given the current situation, it seemed that neither offering greetings nor leaving would be appropriate.

Huangfu Yuchen continued, "Manager Yuan, bring a cloth. Don't let her ruin the appetites of our esteemed guests."

"Yes." Manager Yuan quickly brought a tablecloth and covered Si Qianqian with it.

Yan Ge smiled at the shocked customers and said, "No need to panic, everyone. This woman is a fugitive, and her acupoints have been sealed. Just treat her as if she doesn't exist and continue with your meal. We'll deal with her after finishing our meal."

"Oh…" The customers nodded dazedly.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen went to the second floor, ordered a hot pot, and called for a table full of dishes. Both of them had reached the late stage of the Golden Core stage, so even if someone came to rescue Si Qianqian, they would immediately detect it.

Before long, four suspicious men walked into Liuxian Pavilion. They looked around until their gaze fell on the covered object. Recognizing the familiar dress, they were shocked and quickly approached to remove the tablecloth.

Two of them reached out to grab Si Qianqian.

Some customers at a nearby table were about to intervene, but the two men suddenly convulsed as if hit by an electric current. They screamed in agony, fell to the ground, and stopped moving. The remaining two men realized the situation wasn't in their favor and immediately turned around, attempting to flee. However, they were struck by two hidden weapons from an unknown direction and fell unconscious.

The customers were relieved and resumed their meal.

After finishing their meal, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen left with Si Qianqian and the four men. Back at the palace, instead of handing them over to someone else, Huangfu Yuchen personally interrogated them.

Si Qianqian stood there motionless, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at Huangfu Yuchen. She had a premonition that if she didn't reveal some valuable information today, she would undoubtedly die.

Huangfu Yuchen held her chin and carefully examined her face. Then, he turned to Yan Ge, saying, "Xiao Ge, her face has indeed recovered completely, it's not just a mask or an illusion. Could it be the work of her master? If so, her master might have the means to restore his arms… No wonder our search for the person with severed arms yielded nothing." He pondered deeply.

Yan Ge nodded but didn't say anything. The time when Huangfu Yuchen lost one arm and Meng Xiaohun lost both arms was too coincidental.

Huangfu Yuchen released his hold on Si Qianqian's chin, and after a moment, he asked her in a low voice, "Who is your master?"

Si Qianqian appeared honest, saying, "Meng Xiaohun."

"I'm asking about his true identity," Huangfu Yuchen stared at her coldly. "It's good that you're not afraid of death. Do you think the scariest thing in this world is death? No, I have a hundred and a thousand ways to make you suffer more than death."

Si Qianqian hastily said, "I only know he's called Meng Xiaohun, I don't know anything else. Really!"

Huangfu Yuchen asked again, "What is your purpose in coming to the capital? Has Meng Xiaohun planned anything new?"

Si Qianqian turned pale and replied, "I can't say."

Huangfu Yuchen sneered, pointed a finger at her without touching, and sent a surge of true qi into her body.

Si Qianqian let out a shrill scream and cold sweat dripped from her face. "Ahhh—"

Huangfu Yuchen looked at her expressionlessly, not rushing her.

Unable to bear the excruciating pain in her organs, Si Qianqian spoke intermittently, "He, he… only asked me… to closely monitor the situation in the capital… nothing else… ah—"

Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly let out an even more miserable scream. Fear filled her eyes, and a red mist quickly enveloped her body.

Yan Ge exclaimed, "Yuchen, be careful!"

"Bang!" Si Qianqian exploded before them like a bomb, and she shattered into pieces!

Huangfu Yuchen quickly formed a barrier with his qi, blocking the splattering blood and flesh from all directions to avoid soiling the Tenglong Palace.

Yan Ge swiftly appeared by his side, inspecting him anxiously, "Are you okay?"

Huangfu Yuchen hugged him and shook his head. He didn't bother questioning the other four men and directly killed them. If Si Qianqian didn't know anything, these little minions certainly wouldn't either.

After having the area cleaned up, Huangfu Yuchen held Yan Ge and sat down on a nearby couch. He clung tightly to him, as if holding onto the only source of warmth.

Yan Ge was taken aback. Could it be that Yuchen has already figured something out?

"Yuchen." He wrapped his arms around his lover.

"Baby, am I being too suspicious? I'm actually doubting my own younger brother." Huangfu Yuchen's voice carried a hint of sadness and confusion. He didn't want to doubt Huangfu Yuhu, but Si Qianqian's face had recovered to such an extent. Even with Yan Ge's medical expertise, it would be impossible to achieve such rapid restoration unless a secret technique was used. Si Qianqian was just an ordinary person; the only person capable of doing this was her master – Meng Xiaohun, who possessed special techniques. It wouldn't be surprising if Meng Xiaohun was able to restore his own arms after they were severed. However, Huangfu Yuh's arm was disabled around the same time as Meng Xiaohun lost his arms. Furthermore, Xiao Ge's medical skills were renowned in the capital; even the Imperial Physicians often sought his advice. Now, upon closer reflection, if someone genuinely cared about their arms, they wouldn't give up any chance of healing them. Yet, Huangfu Yuhu refused Xiao Ge's treatment.

When confronting Meng Xiaohun, Xiao Ge fainted when he got too close. It was possible that Huangfu Yuhu refused Xiao Ge's treatment to avoid meeting him. In the past, their whereabouts were leaked multiple times, and along with what Si Qianqian said about "the situation in the capital," assuming Huangfu Yuhu was Meng Xiaohun, all these suspicious points would make sense.

Yan Ge's heart tightened as he hugged Huangfu Yuchen tightly. He had never seen such a confused expression on Yuchen's face before, and it made him feel heartbroken. "Yuchen, don't think too much for now. Regardless of what you're suspecting, it might all be coincidental. There's no direct evidence at the moment, right?"

However, it was as if Huangfu Yuchen didn't hear his words. He murmured, "He's my younger brother, where did I go wrong? He repeatedly targets the person I love… why…"

"Yuchen!" Yan Ge looked at Huangfu Yuchen with worry, fearing he might succumb to heart demons. He held Huangfu Yuchen's face and kissed his slightly cool lips forcefully.

The warmth of his lips brought Huangfu Yuchen back to his senses. Holding Yan Ge's head, he regained the initiative and kissed his beloved deeply, as if he wanted to engrave the other into his very soul.

Yan Ge gently responded to his kiss, his right palm caressing his back softly.

Huangfu Yuchen's chilly heart gradually warmed as he embraced his beloved's waist, his kiss moving from his lips to his closed eyes.

Yan Ge opened his eyes and asked softly, "Feeling better now?"

Huangfu Yuchen nodded. "Baby, how about accompanying me on an expedition to Prince Dai's mansion tonight? I must find out what's going on."

"Yes, I'll be with you," Yan Ge tightened his grip on his hand.

Huangfu Yuchen held him close, immersed in memories of him and Huangfu Yuhu. They had been close brothers since childhood. He had taken care of this younger brother wholeheartedly, and Yuhu admired him deeply. He was not easily deceived, and it was inconceivable for him to be deceived for over twenty years. He was certain that Yuhu's feelings for him were genuine. If Yuhu was not Meng Xiaohun, why were there so many suspicions surrounding him? If Yuhu was Meng Xiaohun, Yuchen couldn't fathom his motives—money? Power? Influence?

Yan Ge understood that Huangfu Yuchen's emotions were complex. He leaned quietly against Huangfu Yuchen's chest, holding his hand tightly without disturbing him.

What Yuchen needed now was not comfort or persuasion but companionship.

By the time Huangfu Yuchen came back to his senses, Yan Ge had already fallen asleep in his embrace, his steady breathing gently brushing against his chest. One hand held his hand, while the other held his waist, his serene expression filled with trust and affection. Yan Ge wanted to tell him, 'you still have me'. This was his beloved; he didn't want to lose him even if he lost the entire world. Huangfu Yuchen's cold heart was filled warmth, and he placed a light kiss on his lover's lips.

He looked outside and saw that it was already dark.

He could hear Xiao Changzi pacing nervously in the corridor, worried but hesitant to come in.

"Wake up, my dear. If you sleep too much now, you won't sleep at night."

Yan Ge opened his eyes and quickly became alert, hugging Yuchen's neck and kissing his lips. He didn't close his eyes but looked straight at him.

Huangfu Yuchen saw his reflection in Yan Ge's worried eyes. He slightly curved his lips, and gently sucked on the soft lips. "I'm fine."

Only then did Yan Ge smile at him, "What time is it now?"

"It's almost the eighth hour. Let's eat first." Huangfu Yuchen instructed for the meal to be served.

After eating, the two of them rushed to Prince Dai's mansion under the cover of the night. With their current strength, concealing their whereabouts was as easy as turning over their hands. They directly entered the mansion and landed on the roof of the main house.

The mansion was brightly lit, and although the master was not present, the servants were still bustling as usual. The mansion's guards were patrolling the various courtyards, just like any other day.

"Nothing seems amiss here. Shall we check other places?" Yan Ge asked in a low voice, but he noticed that Huangfu Yuchen's expression darkened. "What's wrong?"

Huangfu Yuchen replied in a low voice, "Regardless of one's rank, the study is always the most important place. Even if it's not heavily guarded, it should be patrolled more frequently to prevent accidents. However, we've been here for almost an incense stick's worth of time, but the patrol team has passed by the study the same number of times as other places."

As the emperor's most trusted noble, there were numerous confidential documents in Huangfu Yuhu's study.

Yan Ge hoped that Huangfu Yuchen could quickly find evidence on whether Huangfu Yuhu was Meng Xiaohun or not, to give him a resolution. However, emotionally, he worried that Huangfu Yuchen might get hurt if he did find evidence.

The two of them searched other areas, but they found nothing.

Yan Ge thought for a moment, "Yuchen, I think we should add more people to escort the disaster relief silver. Si Qianqian's appearance in the capital indicates that the Centipede organization might take action. I'm afraid they'll target the relief silver."

"We'll go personally," Huangfu Yuchen said in a serious tone, "I actually hope they'll take action. That way, we'll have some leads to follow."

Yan Ge noticed that Yuchen's aura was colder than before, and he hated Huangfu Yuhu even more. Yuchen treated him so well, so why couldn't he just behave? If he had behaved properly, there wouldn't be so many suspicions surrounding him!

"Yuchen, you still have me and Yunxi."

Huangfu Yuchen tightened his grip on Yan Ge's hand and nodded, "Let's go back first."

At daybreak, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen followed the team escorting the disaster relief northward. Now that the Zhantian Vine had left seclusion, they didn't need to wield their swords and instead rode it in the sky.

Although Yan Jin could now be further away from Yan Ge, there was still a limit to their distance, so he stayed quietly in Yan Ge's embrace.

Jiang Gan and Wei Hao's team had only set off for a day when the three caught up quickly, flying high in the sky and observing the situation below.

Concerned about the situation in Yongzhou, the team traveled swiftly, pushing the horses to their limits. For five consecutive days, nothing happened.

Huangfu Yuchen furrowed his brows. "Could it be that Si Qianqian's death alerted them?"

Yan Ge was also disappointed. "It's possible."

Nevertheless, they intended to continue tracking them. Since they had already followed for this long, they might as well escort them to Yongzhou.

That night, the team camped in a forest on the outskirts. The further north they went, the colder the temperature became. Wei Hao divided the entire team into three shifts for night watch.

Jiang Gan was a civil official, so he didn't need to worry about the night watch. With shadow guards protecting him, he was the only one who could sleep soundly.

Just before dawn, the Zhantan Vine, which had been floating motionless in midair, suddenly trembled. Ever since it left seclusion, communication with Yan Ge had become smoother. Following Yan Ge's instructions, it had been monitoring the situation below.

Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, and Yan Jin all became alert and looked down.

Over a hundred black-clad figures stealthily approached the escort team under the cover of night.

Huangfu Yuchen's aura grew heavy. "They really dared to come!"

Wei Hao and the Imperial Guards were highly vigilant and quickly noticed the situation.

"Someone is robbing the official silver!"

"Protect the silver!" Wei Hao shouted.

Both sides swiftly engaged in combat. The black-clad figures displayed remarkable skills, and within moments, they took down more than a dozen Imperial Guards.

Jiang Gan was infuriated by their audacity. "Shadow guards!"

"Lord Jiang!" Twenty shadow guards appeared immediately.

"Take them down for me!"

"Understood!"

Two shadow guards were responsible for protecting Jiang Gan, while the remaining sixteen swiftly joined the battle.

The black-clad figures were indeed formidable, and Huangfu Yuchen frowned as he saw the Imperial Guards falling one by one. "Xiao Ge, let's go down."

Yan Jin stayed on the Zhantian Vine as Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen transformed themselves into the appearance of Imperial Guards and silently infiltrated the battle, mercilessly slaying the black-clad figures.

With their assistance, most of the black-clad figures were quickly dealt with.

When the remaining black-clad figures saw their numbers dwindling, they finally gave up. One of them let out a shrill whistle, and the black-clad figures rapidly retreated, vanishing into the darkness.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen silently disappeared into the darkness without being noticed and returned to the Zhantian Vine, closely following the group of black-clad figures.

The black-clad figures eventually stopped at a mountain temple and remained unaware that they were being followed.

"Master, the leader ordered us to obtain this batch of silver at all costs. I didn't expect these officials to be so troublesome. What should we do now?"

"What else can we do? If we can't complete the leader's orders, death is the only option! Summon another fifty brothers; we must rob the official silver before they reach Yongzhou!"

"Yes!"

"Master, some of those officials are powerful, and there are more than a dozen elite shadow guards among them. I'm afraid that even if we summon fifty more brothers, it will be challenging to deal with them."

The Master sneered, "If the frontal approach won't work, we'll use sneak attacks. I've observed them; they only have a few carriages with limited supplies, not enough for a thousand men. They will undoubtedly replenish their provisions in the towns along the way. When that happens, we'll find a way to poison their food and drinks."

"Master, that is a brilliant strategy!"

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen's faces turned dark, and even Yan Jin clenched his hands at his waist, staring at them angrily.

These people were beyond lawless; they dared to rob official silver and even attempted to poison the officials sent by the court. They didn't deserve any mercy!

"Stay calm," Huangfu Yuchen held Yan Ge's hand and said coldly, "Wait until the other fifty arrive, and then we'll catch them all at once."

"I understand," Yan Ge sighed deeply. Just the thought that these heartless people might have been trained by Huangfu Yuhu sent shivers down his spine. When did Huangfu Yuhu become so ruthless and cruel?

"Yuchen," Yan Ge looked at him with concern.

Huangfu Yuchen pulled him into his embrace and gently kissed him, seeking comfort.

Two days later, the "fifty" that the Master mentioned hastily arrived. During these two days, the Master sent someone to the nearest county and obtained the poison.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen calmly observed the black-clad figures. In their eyes, these people were already dead.

"Let's go. The weather is turning gloomy, and we must hurry to catch up with the officials before it rains or snows."

"Yes!"

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen appeared at the mountain temple's entrance like invisible winds, blocking their way.

"No need to bother." Huangfu Yuchen's aura turned icy, as if he had just emerged from an icy, snowy land.

"Who are you people?" The Master's expression darkened as he brandished his sword and shouted loudly.

Yan Ge replied, "Assassins. Someone hired us to kill you." This was the plan he and Huangfu Yuchen had discussed—they planned to kill everyone and deliberately spare the Master, to see if he could lead them to Centipede's lair.

Lin Qing sneered, not taking the two young men seriously. They seemed to be in their twenties and didn't seem to have impressive martial skills. " I'm in a good mood today and don't want to deal with you. Step aside!"

Huangfu Yuchen gestured with his spiritual sword, and five black-clad figures were instantly slain.

"You!" Lin Qing's face paled, instantly realizing that he had underestimated these two. "Attack!"

Two black-clad figures immediately stepped forward and attacked Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge.

Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge showed no mercy. To avoid arousing Lin Qing's suspicion that they had let him go intentionally, they deliberately restrained their strength and engaged in dozens of moves before killing their attackers.

Lin Qing remained composed. "Send in the others!"

This time, twenty men stepped forward. Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen easily exterminated them all.

Lin Qing realized the situation wasn't favorable. "Who are you people? Who hired you to kill me?"

Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge remained coldly silent.

Lin Qing tried to test them, saying, "No matter how much silver he offered, I'll offer double to give up this mission. How about it?"

Huangfu Yuchen replied coldly, "Even assassins have honor. Accept your fate!"

Lin Qing quickly dodged backward and signaled others to attack, shouting, "Attack together!"

He himself swiftly escaped.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen waites for him to get far enough before swiftly annihilating all the black-clad figures. They then flew to the Zhantian Vine and followed Lin Qing from a distance.

Lin Qing bought a horse from the county and rushed on the road. After a day, he arrived at another county and entered the "Black Phoenix Hall."

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen followed him to the courtyard where he lived and watched as he wrote a line of words on a piece of paper before placing it in a light green jade bottle. Then, a strange scene unfolded: a green butterfly, seemingly real and ethereal at the same time, flew out of the jade bottle, flapped its wings once, and disappeared without a trace.

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen immediately tracked its aura, but they found nothing. The green butterfly had completely vanished!

They exchanged glances but did not make a move. They had seen the contents of the note, Lin Qing had reported to the leader about the failed operation. They guessed that the leader would reply to Lin Qing and arrange the next step.

Sure enough, shortly after Lin Qing washed his face, a green butterfly appeared before him. Lin Qing reached out, and a note fell into his palm. The green butterfly then flew back into the jade bottle.

"See if you recognize the handwriting on the note," Yan Ge urged Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen didn't need the reminder and focused on the unfolded note. The instructions on the note directed Lin Qing to organize another operation, but the handwriting wasn't Huangfu Yuhu's.

Strangely, Huangfu Yuchen didn't feel relieved.

"How is it?" Yan Ge asked.

Huangfu Yuchen shook his head.

Yan Ge also became concerned. He believed there was a high chance that Huangfu Yuhu was Meng Xiaohun. The fact that the handwriting wasn't his indicated that Huangfu Yuhu was cautious, and therefore, difficult to deal with. The longer they delayed resolving Meng Xiaohun's identity, the deeper the pain he caused Huangfu Yuchen.

"They will continue with the operation. Let's go back to the escort team," Huangfu Yuchen said, "Since we suspect Meng Xiaohun, it's better to keep a close eye on him." He couldn't bring himself to continue calling his brother "Yuhu."

Yan Ge nodded.

The three of them rode on Zhantian Vine and returned to the escort team.

Due to the previous incident, the atmosphere within the escort team had become even more tense, and the Imperial Guards' killing intent grew stronger.

Even Jiang Gan couldn't continue sleeping soundly, becoming more solemn.

After three days of peaceful travel, they were stopped once again. This time, during the daytime.

Jiang Gan and Wei Hao were both infuriated. This was a blatant disrespect for the court and a challenge to the imperial authority!

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen saw the person leading the black-clad figures and both of them were startled—it was Meng Xiaohun!

"Xiao Ge, let's go!" Huangfu Yuchen said.

The two of them instantly teleported and surrounded Meng Xiaohun from the front and back.

Meng Xiaohun was taken aback, seemingly not expecting them to appear there. He attempted to escape but was intercepted by Huangfu Yuchen's foot. Huangfu Yuchen thought about how this person had repeatedly targeted his beloved and how he might be his younger brother, and it sent a chill down his heart. He was determined not to give him any chance to escape. With a wave of his right hand, his spiritual sword swung forward, forming a sharp invisible blade that aimed at Meng Xiaohun's chest.

Meng Xiaohun's face turned pale. Instead of fighting back, he turned and tried to escape.

However, Yan Ge was behind him, making it impossible for him to succeed. Yan Ge also raised his spiritual sword and struck down from above.

Meng Xiaohun didn't show Yan Ge any courtesy. He snorted and attacked with both palms at the same time.

Wei Hao, Jiang Gan, and others were all shocked. The Emperor and Yan Guiqing?

The black-clad figures saw their leader engaged in a fight, so they also attacked the Imperial Guards with their weapons.

"Kill!" Wei Hao shouted loudly.

The Emperor and Yan Guiqing's appearance boosted the soldiers' morale, and they fought vigorously.

Huangfu Yuchen noticed that Meng Xiaohun didn't want to fight him, but it didn't move him at all. This person treating his beloved like this was equivalent to treating him that way. He saw Meng Xiaohun attack Yan Ge without hesitation and his eyes became colder. Without any sentimentality, he raised his spiritual sword and attacked Meng Xiaohun once again.

Meng Xiaohun soared into the air, amd glanced at Huangfu Yuchen, seemingly furious.

He landed in front of Yan Ge, chanted an incantation and his moves became more ferocious, emitting an intense killing intent as if it had a tangible form that enveloped Yan Ge.

Yan Ge slashed his spiritual sword in the air, and a blood mark appeared on Meng Xiaohun's body.

Huangfu Yuchen landed a kick on Meng Xiaohun's back.

Meng Xiaohun was shocked. He realized he was no match for the two of them together, so he tried to fly away.

However, Yan Ge saw through his escape route and landed a heavy palm strike on his shoulder.

Meng Xiaohun was forced to fly backward. Huangfu Yuchen tapped him with his index finger, completely immobilizing him.

The black-clad figures saw that their leader was captured and immediately fled.

Huangfu Yuchen said in a cold voice, "Don't let any of them escape!"

"Yes!"

Wei Hao led the soldiers to intercept, and Yan Ge and the shadow guards also joined the pursuit. Soon, all the black-clad figures were killed.

Yan Ge looked at the blood drops on his sword and smiled faintly. For his beloved, he didn't fear killing.

Huangfu Yuchen stood in front of Meng Xiaohun, staring at him intently.

Meng Xiaohun's expression remained cold and arrogant, without any emotions as he met Huangfu Yuchen's gaze. His eyes were sharp, as if he didn't care at all about becoming a prisoner in their hands.

"I ask you, why did you repeatedly target Xiao Ge?" Huangfu Yuchen said, "And why did you attck the royal nobles and wealthy merchants several times? What conspiracy does the Centipede Organization have?"

"No comment," Meng Xiaohun said proudly, "Since I've fallen into your hands, you can kill or torture me as you please."

Yan Ge saw Huangfu Yuchen looking angrily at Meng Xiaohun and walked over to him, using voice transmission to ask, "Yuchen, what's going on?"

"He looks exactly like the Meng Xiaohun we've seen before," Huangfu Yuchen said, "but I can be sure that he is not Yuhu."

Yan Ge was puzzled, "Are you saying that Huangfu Yuhu is not Meng Xiaohun?"

Huangfu Yuchen paused for a moment, "I didn't say that."

Yan Ge became confused, "What do you mean?"

Huangfu Yuchen patted Meng Xiaohun, "This person is not Huangfu Yuhu, but that doesn't mean Huangfu Yuhu is not him."

Yan Ge seemed to understand and asked aloud, "What do we do now?"

"We search his soul," Huangfu Yuchen said firmly.

Yan Ge nodded. The soul-searching technique caused immense harm to the target, ranging from severe injuries to death. Since Huangfu Yuchen was certain that this Meng Xiaohun was not Huangfu Yuhu, using the soul-searching technique on him was of no concern. They had used it on Si Qianqian once, and she ended up exploding.

Meng Xiaohun's face showed a hint of shock, "Soul-searching technique?"

Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen ignored him.

Suddenly, Meng Xiaohun's lips moved rapidly.

"Yuchen, be careful of his incantation!" Yan Ge warned.

Huangfu Yuchen reacted quickly, placing his right palm firmly on Meng Xiaohun's head and using the soul-searching technique.

Meng Xiaohun stopped his incantation halfway, coughed up blood, and died on the spot.

Yan Ge reached out to check his breath and confirmed that he was dead. He looked dazed, feeling a mixture of excitement and disappointment, just like someone who won a lottery ticket but realized it was from the previous draw.

Huangfu Yuchen frowned and withdrew his hand, "I only used eighty percent of my strength so it wouldn't kill him. It might be related to the incantation he was chanting just now."

Yan Ge didn't know what to say.

Huangfu Yuchen pondered for a moment, "Let's discuss it in Yongzhou."

Jiang Gan, Wei Hao, and the others couldn't comprehend what had happened, but they noticed the animosity between Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Ge, and the leader of the black clad men. When they heard Huangfu Yuchen's words, they quickly invited him and Yan Ge to the carriage.

Yan Jin revealed himself at this moment, pretending to have been hiding behind a tree all along.

Jiang Gan widened his eyes, "Jin'er, you're here too?" It was cold so he didn't expect the Emperor and Yan Guiqing to bring Yan Jin along.

"I missed Father." Jin'er happily pounced into his arms.

Jiang Gan was overjoyed, hugging him, "Father missed you too."

The Zhantian vine slipped into the carriage unnoticed.

The bodies of the black-clothed men had to be left behind temporarily, while Meng Xiaohun's body was wrapped up by Wei Hao and placed in a separate carriage. Although Meng Xiaohun was dead, there were still many unanswered questions. If the people from the Centipede Organization tried to reclaim Meng Xiaohun's body, it might provide more clues.

Inside the carriage, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen remained silent. Both of them were smart men—one a businessman and the other an emperor. Even though Meng Xiaohun was dead, based on the information they had gathered in the past few days, they couldn't rule out the suspicion around Huangfu Yuhu. They had just started tracking Meng Xiaohun when he suddenly appeared before them. It seemed too coincidental.

Yan Ge's mood was not good at all. Ever since Meng Xiaohun appeared in the paddock, he felt that his and Huangfu Yuchen's lives had been thrown into chaos. When he saw Yuchen occasionally distracted, he couldn't help but feel resentful, and even harbored an evil thought: Even if they prove that Huangfu Yuhu is not Meng Xiaohun, he hoped Huangfu Yuhu would leave Yuchen's life so his beloved would have peace.

Huangfu Yuchen noticed Yan Ge's silence, and he embraced him apologetically, "My love, I'm sorry for ignoring you."

Yan Ge shook his head, looking serious, "Yuchen, let me ask you this. If it turns out that Huangfu Yuhu is not Meng Xiaohun, can you treat him as before?"

Huangfu Yuchen gently caressed Yan Ge's cheek and shook his head slowly, "All the doubts about him before can't be mere coincidences. Even if it's proven that he is not Meng Xiaohun, the actions of the Centipede Organization are undoubtedly linked to him. I cannot face him without any resentment."

"That's right," Yan Ge lightly kissed his lips, "From now on, treat Huangfu Yuhu as if he were Meng Xiaohun. When it is confirmed, you won't feel so uneasy."

Huangfu Yuchen smiled wryly, "Baby, you have a unique way of comforting people."

He paused and let Yan Ge lean against him, "The thing I can't accept the most is that he repeatedly targeted you. Baby, I must give you and myself an explanation. Let's not talk about him now. This is your first time going north. Take a look at the scenery outside."

Xiao Ge's smile was charming, but in the past few days, he hadn't smiled much, as he was always worried about him.

Yan Ge also wanted Huangfu Yuchen to feel better, so he followed his lead and looked out of the carriage window.

Huangfu Yuchen hugged him from behind as they both watched the sky slowly fill with small snowflakes. They didn't speak but quietly savored the warmth of being together with their loved one.

On the journey, nothing else happened, and the group safely arrived in Yongzhou.

From what they saw along the way, it could be concluded that the disaster in Yongzhou was indeed severe, with many towns suffering from severe frost damage, and the common people living in miserable conditions.

"Your Majesty, we are currently in Hexian County. At our current speed, we will reach Yong city in three days," Wei Hao approached the carriage and reported.

Huangfu Yuchen spoke calmly, "No need to rush to Yong city. Let's temporarily stay in Hexian County. Prime Minister Wen, General Wei, immediately lead people to investigate the severity of the disaster in Yongzhou."

Wei Hao was secretly surprised but didn't reveal it on his face, "Yes!"

Jiang Gan said, "To investigate the real situation, the most effective way is to immerse ourselves among the disaster-stricken people. Your Majesty, please rest assured; General Wei and I will report back as soon as possible."

"Go ahead," Huangfu Yuchen waved his hand.

Jiang Gan was indeed capable. He and Wei Hao pretended to be refugees and only took one day to thoroughly investigate the situation.

"Report to Your Majesty, General Wei and I have found out that the most severe disaster in Yongzhou is mainly in the northern areas. The common people there have been living in extremely dire conditions. However…" Jiang Gan hesitated slightly. He now knew Yan Guiqing had named him, asking him to come to Yongzhou as well.

"Speak freely," Huangfu Yuchen glanced at him.

Jiang Gan said, "The most severe situation is in Yong City and three other counties. In my estimation, it would require about five hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand taels of silver for disaster relief."

Yan Ge frowned.

The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Jiang Gan and Wei Hao were oppressed by Huangfu Yuchen's imperial aura, not daring to breathe. They both understood that it was not surprising for Huangfu Yuchen to be angry; in the urgent report, Prince Dai had stated that two million taels of silver were needed for disaster relief. Why did Prince Dai lie about the figures? Whatever his reasons were, it was an act of deceiving the emperor!

Both of them thought Huangfu Yuchen would erupt in anger, but they heard him speak calmly, "Set off for Yong City in half an hour."

"Yes!"

In Yong City, inside the Prefectural Government Office, Prince Dai sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood, but his lips curled into a smile.

"Meng Xiaohun" was dead; he was safe now.

He waved his hand gently, and the bloodstains on the floor disappeared without a trace. He reviewed all his plans, confirming that there were no loopholes before setting his mind at ease.

"My lord, why didn't you go out today? Are you okay?" Song Ruhao pushed the door and entered, showing concern. This man was truly gentle towards him, caring for him, and even brought him along on official business trips. Perhaps, one day, he could truly forget about Huangfu Yuchen and start a new life, even though Princess Dai was quite bothersome.

"It's nothing. It's so cold outside; why not rest in the room?" Huangfu Yuhu hugged him close, gently caressing his back. However, his eyes were cold and devoid of any emotions. How could he ever have feelings for Song Ruhao? No matter how beautiful he was, he was still a man. If it weren't to win over Song Chaobang, he would never have put so much effort into getting Song Ruhao. Unfortunately, Song Chaobang cherished his daughter too much and refused to let her become a concubine.

"My lord?" Someone knocked on the door from outside.

"Is it *Liu Wei? Come in," Huangfu Yuhu patted Song Ruhao's back.

*Not to be confused with "Luo Wei", the Prime Minister of War

Song Ruhao obediently stood up, " I'll leave first."

"Hmm, go ahead. I'll come see you later," Huangfu Yuhu looked at him gently.

Once Song Ruhao left, his gentle expression immediately disappeared, "What is it?"

Liu Wei said, "Reporting to Your Lordship, the spies have returned with news that the relief convoy will arrive in three days. However, something said by one of the subordinates caught our attention."

"Oh?" Huangfu Yuhu's pupils contracted slightly, "What was said?"

Liu Wei continued, "Official Qiu mentioned that based on the appearance of the carriages, it seems that the amount of silver they carry is less than two million taels—"

"What!" Huangfu Yuhu's expression remained unchanged, but his mind was racing. He hadn't been informed of this important detail by the men he sent to rob the relief money! They had overlooked such a crucial matter! He had requested two million taels, but Huangfu Yuchen didn't fully provide it. Could it be that Huangfu Yuchen already doubted him? The more he thought about It, the more anxious Huangfu Yuhu became. After years of Huangfu Yuchen's unwavering trust in him, he dared to take the risk of asking for an additional one hundred and fifty thousand taels of relief silver. If Huangfu Yuchen was already suspicious, he would surely send a second envoy. Once they discovered that he falsified the amount of relief silver, all his efforts over the years would be in vain.

"Your Lordship?" Liu Wei looked at him with confusion.

Huangfu Yuhu sat down slowly and waved his hand, "You may leave for now."

Three days later, the convoy escorting the relief silver arrived in Yong City.

Yongzhou's magistrate, Qiu Yongcheng, led officials of all sizes to greet them.

Upon seeing the officials' attire, Wei Hao's face darkened, and he shouted loudly, "How dare you! His Majesty and Yan have arrived, yet you're dressed in mourning attire. You deserve death!"

Qiu Yongcheng was taken aback, then hurriedly rushed to the carriage that was protected in the center, crying bitterly, "Your Majesty… Yan Guiqing…this humble subject is guilty, Prince Dai has passed away… I'm guilty, Your Majesty!"

The curtain of the carriage was suddenly lifted, revealing a cold and dignified face. Huangfu Yuchen stared at Qiu Yongcheng, asking in a cold voice, "What did you say?"

Qiu Yongcheng burst into tears and snot, "Your Majesty…Prince Dai…Prince Dai has passed away…"

The officials behind him followed suit, wiping their tears, "Your Majesty, please accept our condolences…"

Inside the carriage, Yan Ge was still in shock. It took him a moment to come to his senses and he tightly held Huangfu Yuchen's hand.

Huangfu Yuchen led him off the carriage and said coldly, "Where is Prince Dai now? Lead the way."

"Yes, yes! Your Majesty, Yan Guiqing, this way, please—" Qiu Yongcheng's legs were trembling He struggled to get up from the snow, falling repeatedly before managing to stand up.

"Useless!" Huangfu Yuchen scolded.

"Yes, yes." Qiu Yongcheng wiped his sweat, "Your Majesty, this way, please."

"How did Prince Dai die?" Yan Ge asked.

Hearing this clear and pleasant voice, Qiu Yongcheng guessed it was Yan Guiqing and didn't dare to delay. He immediately replied, "Replying to Yan Guiqing, yesterday… Prince Dai received news that the relief convoy would arrive soon. He was very happy and had a few extra drinks. Unexpectedly, there was a fire in the eastern courtyard that night. Poor Prince Dai… was burned… this official is guilty…" Qiu Yongcheng began to cry again. It was unknown whether he was genuinely grieving for Prince Dai's death or just afraid of facing the Emperor's punishment.

In a short while, they arrived at the main hall.

Commoners were not qualified to hold funerals for royals. Therefore, Qiu Yongcheng only had Prince Dai's body placed in a silver coffin. Fortunately, it was winter, so the body would not decompose quickly.

Prince Dai's widow and Song Ruhao knelt in front of the coffin, weeping silently.

"His Majesty has arrived—Yan Guiqing has arrived—"

Prince Dai's widow and Song Ruhao prostrated themselves.

Song Ruhao thought about how the first man he loved didn't love him back, and the man he married died shortly after their wedding. The more he thought about it, the sadder and more hopeless he felt. He fainted on the ground but nobody paid attention to him.

Huangfu Yuchen went directly to the coffin and opened the lid with a single palm.

Yan Ge also leaned over to take a look. Inside the coffin was a charred corpse, its figure resembling Huangfu Yuchen, but the face was burnt beyond recognition.

Huangfu Yuchen sent a voice transmission to Yan Ge, his firm tone mixed with indifference and disappointment, "This is not Huangfu Yuhu."

Yan Ge felt a pang of pain in his heart. He turned his head, looking straight into Huangfu Yuchen's eyes, "Yuchen, he's not worth it."

"Mmm," Huangfu Yuchen closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them again, they were clear, "Bring Prince Dai onto the carriage."

"Yes!"

"Qiu Yongcheng, Yongzhou's magistrate, and the incompetent guards shall all be dismissed, investigated and imprisoned for life! The guards shall escort Prince Dao back to the capital for burial."

Qiu Yongcheng cried even more bitterly.

Yan Ge remained silent. This judgment was unfair to Qiu Yongcheng and the others, but he understood that Huangfu Yuchen and Huangfu Yuhu's brotherly feud was a shameful secret of the royal family and could not be exposed. If Huangfu Yuchen didn't punish them severely, others might think he didn't care about his brother Huangfu Yuhu, which would be harmful to the harmony of the court.

Huangfu Yuchen held his hand, "Baby, I know what you're thinking. But there will be a chance to give them a general amnesty in the future." Since being with Yan Ge, his heart was no longer as cold and hard as before because he knew his beloved had a soft heart. In the past, Yan Ge dared not kill, nor did he want to kill. But now, his love could kill those black-clothed men without hesitation, all for him. He was so fortunate to have such a understanding lover.

Yan Ge looked at him with encouraging and supportive eyes, "Yuchen, you're doing the right thing."

Huangfu Yuchen instructed Jiang Gan and Wei Hao, "Prime Minister Wen, General Wei Hao, I leave this place to you."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please rest assured! Please accept our condolences!"

"Your Majesty, please depart—"

Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, and Yan Jin had a quiet ride on their way back.

Back in the capital, Huangfu Yuchen made elaborate funeral arrangements for Prince Dai. The common people didn't know much about Prince Dai, except that he was the Emperor's brother and was deeply cherished by the Emperor. They sympathized with the Emperor and Yan Ge, and many of Yan Ge's business partners and ordinary citizens even sent gifts to the Emperor, hoping to console him and bring him some comfort.

This showed the high esteem in which Huangfu Yuchen was held among the common people. Both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were pleased about this. As their cultivation progressed, they grew less attached to money, power, and fame. If it weren't for the young Crown Prince, they would have long retired from the secular world. The love and support of the common people gave them the motivation to govern the court.

However, Huangfu Yuhu's fake death and his unwillingness to explain caused a great blow to Huangfu Yuchen, and he was in low spirits for several days.

Yan Ge was very worried that this incident would become a knot that would hinder his path of cultivating. As long as Huangfu Yuhu didn't die, he wouldn't be at ease either. There were still many things they needed to do and could do.

"Yuchen, come with me."

"Where are we going, baby?" Huangfu Yuchen followed Yan Ge with a smile.

"The saltpeter and sulfur you had people look for has been delivered."

"Oh?" Huangfu Yuchen became interested.

The two quickly arrived at the laboratory of the Ministry of Works. Yan Ge sent everyone away, measured the appropriate amount of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, and skillfully made a very small explosive, about the size of a firecracker.

"Watch this."

He lit the fuse and threw the small explosive into a pit on the ground.

"Boom!"

"Is this the gunpowder you mentioned?" Huangfu Yuchen asked in surprise.

"Yes. If you increase the quantity, it will be more powerful." Yan Ge said. He wiped his hands, then went over to him, holding both of his hands and gazing into his eyes, "Yuchen, have you ever wondered why Huangfu Yuhu did all this?"

Huangfu Yuchen nodded and said calmly, "Mostly, it's to usurp the throne." People always have a purpose in their actions. It was either for money, fame, power or love, and Huangfu Yuhu's betrayal was no exception.

In terms of wealth, the late Emperor and the deceased Empress had shown as much favor to Huangfu Yuhu as they did to Huangfu Yuchen, so Huangfu Yuhu's wealth must have been considerable. In terms of love, Huangfu Yuhu went through so much trouble to marry Song Ruhao, but he didn't bring him along after his fake death, which showed that it wasn't for love or revenge. As for fame, it was even less likely. Betraying his older brother wouldn't earn him a good reputation. Therefore, the only answer was power. The Centipede organization looted so much wealth to prepare for some future coup.

"Baby, I know what you want to say." Huangfu Yuchen pulled him into an embrace, "Now that I think about it, the rise of the Centipede organization coincided with the year when Huangfu Yuchen took a liking to travel. It was my subconscious reluctance to doubt him that caused me not to thoroughly investigate him. He spent so much time and effort, and now he has even faked his death and escaped. It's clear he won't easily give up his goal. He will undoubtedly reappear in the future. What you want to say is that we can't relax, right?"

Yan Ge glanced at him, "Since you understand, why have you been so despondent and unwilling to face the situation head-on? It makes me angry…"

And a bit jealous.

Huangfu Yuchen's lips twitched. He embraced Yan Ge and said, "I've been waiting for my love to come and comfort me. Who would've thought my love would be so ruthless and take so long to come to me."

Yan Ge was speechless.

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled and gently kissed his cheek, "Baby, don't worry. I'll be back in court in two days."

Yan Ge arched an eyebrow, "Can't it be tomorrow?"

"No." Huangfu Yuchen slipped his hand into Yan Ge's clothing and sucked his earlobe, "I will be with you today and tomorrow."

"Mmm…" Yan Ge shivered all over, trying to struggle. This was not their bedroom, but a laboratory.

"Don't move. Let me love you properly." Huangfu Yuchen's arms tightened around him. His beloved had been through a tough time lately, and he planned to surprise him later.

When Yan Ge woke up, he found himself lying on the dragon bed, with only him in the bed. He felt a little disappointed, but then he heard a low voice outside the bed curtain, "Prepare hot water and porridge. If the Crown Prince or Prince Jin come, send them away."

"Yes."

Yan Ge smiled, lazily turning over to lie on his side. He looked through the bed curtain at Huangfu Yuchen, who was dressed in his inner garment. He then turned and noticed a rolled-up yellow edict lying next to the pillow.

He picked it with curiosity and unfolded it: Huang Quiqing!

–"Ding! Congratulations on successfully completing the main mission 11—Being promoted to Huang Quiqing (Imperial Noble Consort) by the Emperor. Mission rewards include-500,000 taels of silver, 'Fengyun Immortal Records' cultivation technique up to the Late Nascent Soul stage. Main mission 12—Being promoted to Empress by the Emperor. Mission rewards upon completion: 10,000,000 taels of silver, 'Fengyun Immortal Records' cultivation technique up to the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Punishment for mission failure: Deduct 1,000,000 taels of silver. To accept the mission, choose 'Yes.' To refuse the mission, choose 'No.'"

*Ranks in order-Daying, Changzai, Shirén (scholar), Cairen, Guiren, Shiqing, Caiqing (honorable official), Guiqing(Noble Consort), to Huang Guiqing (Imperial Noble Consort).

"Are you happy?" Huangfu Yuchen lifted the bed curtain and lay down beside Yan Ge, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

He had made a vow in his heart, he was determined to make Yan Ge his Empress in the future. Even if Yan Ge was unwilling, he would find a way to make it happen.

"Yes." Yan Ge folded the imperial edict, feeling a mix of happiness and worry as he accepted the mission. 'The next task is to become the Empress. Damn, who could tell me how I can become an Empress?"

It was not a simple matter but their cultivation was only at the late Golden Core (Divine Transformation) stage now, and there was no urgency to obtain a cultivation technique for the Tribulation Crossing stage.

"What are you thinking about?" Huangfu Yuchen lifted him up and let him lie on his lap, gently massaging his waist.

"Nothing, I'll take a nap." Yan Ge closed his eyes, as Yan Jin was communicating to him.

"Master! The system can be upgraded now! After this upgrade, the system backpack will be able to preserve items. Not only that, you will be also be able to sell products in the system store!"

"That's great. Little Jin, help me see if I can buy more Foundation Establishment Pills after the upgrade is complete, or the recipes for them."

"No problem."

Huangfu Yuchen sensed from Yan Ge's unstable breath that he was not asleep. He lowered his head and saw a smile on Yan Ge's lips. He couldn't help but smile too. He didn't ask why Yan Ge was smiling, and continued to massage his beloved.

After about the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Yan Jin's voice rang out again, "Master, the system upgrade is complete. The current progress is 95%. I've searched, and there are Foundation Establishment Pills, but they are a bit expensive. One Foundation Establishment Pill costs 10,000 taels of silver."

A bit expensive? It was very expensive! Yan Ge replied helplessly, "Are there any recipes for the Foundation Establishment Pills?"

"Yes." Yan Jin said, "They are very expensive—wait a moment, let me count the zeros. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven—"

Yan Ge became more and more alarmed as he listened and quickly interrupted him, "Stop! No need to count anymore. I'll have the courage to see how much it is when I've earned more money." Forget it, he'll take it one step at a time. The priority now was the gunpowder.

"Baby," Huangfu Yuchen touched his face, "Don't think too much. I'll take care of everything." He didn't know what Yan Ge was worried about, but whatever it was, they were together, and they would always find a solution.

Yan Ge opened his mouth and bit Huangfu Yuchen's leg.

"Is it delicious?" Huangfu Yuchen chuckled.

Yan Ge licked his lips, and said seriously, "It's not bad."

"Haha…" Huangfu Yuchen caressed his hair, "Enough playing around, you should rest a little bit more."

Yan Ge nodded and closed his eyes.

"Respectful greetings to Huang Guiqing!"

When the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Yan Mansion, Yan Ge alighted and was taken aback by the organized and enthusiastic greetings from the servants.

All the servants had bright smiles, and their spirits were high, which made him chuckle.

"No need for formalities. Du Juan, reward them."

"Yes."

"Thank you, Huang Guiqing!" The voices of the servants became even louder.

Yan Xiaojing, Madam Yan, and Lady Wen personally came out to welcome him.

"Respectful greetings to Huang Guiqing!"

Yan Ge promptly intercepted them, "Father, Mother, Sister-in-law, next time you do this, I won't recognize you."

Yan Xiaojing and Madam Yan both glared at him. Naturally, they wouldn't be so formal with their own son. Bowing was just for appearances in front of outsiders. Yan Ge was now Huang Guiqing, which was a much higher rank and certain protocols were unavoidable. However, since Yan Ge said so, they would let it go next time.

"It's been almost three years since Big Brother enlisted. Has he written back recently?"

They chatted as they walked.

Madam Yan's eyes reddened.

"What's wrong?" Yan Ge was surprised. Could it be that something happened to Yan Su? It was impossible; if Yan Su had any problems, the people arranged by Huangfu Yuchen would definitely inform him.

Yan Xiaojing said calmly, "Your elder brother's letter arrived two days ago. He intends to serve for three more years."

"Hmph, he doesn't even think about his son or his wife!" Madam Yan said angrily.

Yan Ge waved away the servants, "Father, Mother, don't worry too much. Men all want to achieve something. If it weren't for—ahem, I would have already established a business empire!"

"Don't talk nonsense." Yan Xiaojing glared at him again. Was it so easy to talk about establishing an empire?

"I'm just worried." Madam Yan sighed, "Your nephew and your sister-in-law also… Why doesn't your elder brother think about them?"

Yan Ge said calmly, "It's alright. After I return, I'll talk to Yuchen and let Sister-in-law and Tiantian follow the army."

Yan Xiaojing and Madam Yan both brightened up.

Lady Wen's eyes also shimmered with tears as she cautiously looked at Yan Ge, afraid that he was just speaking casually.

"This is possible?" Madam Yan hesitated, "Ge'er, if you do this, will people think…"

Yan Xiaojing's rationality suppressed his emotions, "I think letting our daughter in law and Tiantian stay for a few months should be enough."

Yan Ge waved his hand and embraced Madam Yan's shoulder, "It's okay, Father, Mother. Can't your son use his connections a bit now that he's become Huang Guiqing?"

Both Yan Xiaojing and Madam Yan were amused by him.

Yan Xiaojing said to Madam Yan and Lady Wen Shi, "You both go see Tiantian; I'll talk to Ge'er."

"Alright, you two go inside quickly. It's cold outside." Madam Yan reminded them before leaving with Lady Wen.

Father and son sat in the hall, and Yan Xiaojing asked, "Ge'er, do you think I should take a step back?"

"Father, absolutely not. If you really did that, you would become a laughingstock." Yan Ge understood what he meant and thought to himself that their family was too honest. If it were someone else's child who became a Huang Guiqing or an imperial consort, the whole family or even the entire clan would have taken advantage of the position to expand their influence and amass wealth. But his family was different; they were all afraid of making mistakes and causing trouble for others.

"Yan Bao—"

*Yan Bao is the official name for the messages the Emperor sends Yan Ge.

Yan Xiaojing quickly stood up.

Yan Ge was puzzled, "I've only been out for a while. What could be the matter?"

"This servant pays respects to Huang Guiqing!" A eunuch stepped into the hall and knelt down swiftly.

"No need for formalities." Yan Ge raised his hand gracefully.

"Thank you, Huang Guiqing. This is from the Emperor for you."

Yan Ge received the letter, "Du Juan, escort the eunuch out."

"Yes." Du Juan responded. Naturally, she would have to give some reward to the eunuch.

Yan Ge opened the letter, and after reading it, he smiled and a sweet smile appeared on his face.

Yan Xiaojing seemed not to be looking but was actually observing from the corner of his eyes. He shook his head secretly, but felt happy for his younger son.

"Father, take a look at this." Yan Ge handed the top paper to Yan Xiaojing and laughed.

After reading the letter, Yan Xiaojing sighed emotionally, "The Emperor truly values you. Ge'er, you must cherish this."

"I understand." Yan Ge smiled, "Yuchen also mentioned you. I just didn't think of things as thoroughly as he did."

"What did he say?" Yan Xiaojing was puzzled.

Yan Ge said, "He guessed that you might have thoughts of stepping back and advised you not to. You should consider Tiantian. Tiantian was born into a noble family and will probably take an official path in the future. Having a deep foundation in the court will only be beneficial for him." Huangfu Yuchen considered the Yan family's situation after they ascended and crossed the tribulation. Without Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge protecting them in the court in the future, Yan Xiangtian would have to rely on Yan Xiaojing and Yan Su. However, it was too early to talk about ascension, and it was not the time to tell Yan Xiaojing about it, so Yan Ge omitted that part.

Yan Xiaojing pondered for a moment and then smiled in relief, "I see."

He realized that he was having some hesitation and fear. Could it be because he was getting older? As long as he was true to himself, what did he have to fear no matter how high his position became?

Huangfu Yuchen actually considered so much for his family. Yan Ge felt both happy and moved, and he couldn't sit still.

Yan Xiaojing noticed and made an excuse for his younger son, "Your mother and your sister-in-law will be so happy after hearing about this matter. I don't have time to accompany you today. Just go about your business as Huang Guiqing."

"Father, it seems that you still care more about your elder son." Yan Ge pouted. But he still stood up, and said, "I'm leaving."

"You brat!" Yan Xiaojing was annoyed by him again.

Yan Ge was afraid that his father would take off his shoe and hit him, so he quickly ran away.

At the entrance of the Yan Mansion, Gao Feng and Gao Yun came forward, kneeling on one knee, looking spirited as they said, "Respectful greetings to Huang Guiqing!"

"Oh? Gao Feng, Gao Yun, you're out of seclusion." Yan Ge glanced at their cultivation levels and smiled, "Your aptitude is good; you've already reached the Late Foundation Establishment stage in just a few months. If you have any questions about cultivation, feel free to ask me. Perhaps you'll become senior brothers to others in the future, so be diligent in your practice."

"Yes!"

"Let's return to the palace."

"Yes!" Gao Feng and Gao Yun followed behind the carriage. They exchanged glances, and felt somewhat anxious.

After cultivating, they could truly comprehend how profound Huang Guiqing's cultivation was. Not only that, Huang Guiqing was good-looking, with a great aura. Together with his incomprehensible high-level cultivation, that casual smile was extremely charming. If they liked men, it would have been difficult to resist that charm. This was probably the reason why the Emperor could rest assured leaving them by Huang Guiqing's side. Thinking about the Emperor's possessiveness and jealousy, the two quickly suppressed their wandering thoughts, sat properly on their horses, and looked ahead.

Back in the palace, Yan Ge couldn't wait to see Huangfu Yuchen. Instead of going back to Tenglong Palace, he went directly to the small garden outside the Imperial study.

The palace maids quickly brought hot tea and a warm stove.

After sitting for about half an hour, the meeting in the study finally ended.

Yan Ge looked from a distance through the flower bushes at the entrance of the study. Huangfu Yuchen slowly walked out, his figure looking inexplicably lonely.

With Huangfu Yuhu around in the past, Huangfu Yuchen must have felt more secure since both of them were members of the royal family. But now that Huangfu Yuhu was not here, Huangfu Yuchen could be considered a true solitary man in the court.

"Gao Feng."

"The subordinate is here."

"I remember that the Emperor has a good relationship with a sixth uncle, right?" Yan Ge asked.

Gao Feng thought for a moment, "Are you referring to King Zhong? As far as I know, King Zhong is the brother who was closest to the late emperor. When the current Emperor ascended to the throne, King Zhong put in a lot of effort in the court. However, because King Zhong has health issues, he rarely appears in public. He should still be recuperating in his palace."

"Do you know what illness he has?" Yan Ge had an idea in his mind.

Gao Yun said, "It seems to be some sort of heart condition, and he can only rest quietly."

Yan Ge was puzzled, "Why didn't Yuchen mention this to me?"

Gao Feng said, "A heart condition is a difficult ailment to cure. Perhaps the Emperor is afraid that it would add pressure on you."

"That's possible." Yan Ge pondered.

As he watched Huangfu Yuchen walk away, Yan Ge quickly stood up and waved at him, "Yuchen!"

Huangfu Yuchen turned around and saw Yan Ge smiling at him from behind the flower bushes. His heart softened, and a smile curved on his lips. He quickly walked over and skillfully embraced Yan Ge.

"Weren't you going out? Why did you come back so soon?"

"To pick you up from work," Yan Ge teased.

"Oh, thank you, baby," Huangfu Yuchen pinched his waist and looked at Gao Feng and Gao Yun.

"Respectful greetings to Your Majesty!"

Huangfu Yuchen gave them a faint glance, then said, "You may leave. Inform Jun Xiang and Lu Fei that they'll be working under the supervision of Huang Guiqing from now on."

"Yes, we take our leave," Gao Feng and Gao Yun felt a shiver down their spines and they quickly retreating.

Yan Ge stared at Huangfu Yuchen, observing his face from all angles.

What?" Huangfu Yuchen playfully draped an arm around Yan Ge, sat down, and even took a sip of Yan Ge's tea, acting nonchalant.

"I should be asking you what's wrong," Yan Ge said.

Huangfu Yuchen hugged him tightly and murmured, "I'm jealous of Gao Feng and Gao Yun. They spend almost as much time with you as I do. Is that not allowed?"

Yan Ge placed a firm kiss on his chin and smiled mischievously, "Well, Deng Mande has spent even more time by your side."

Deng Mande froze: "…"

Huangfu Yuchen said helplessly, "…I can't argue with you."

"That's right." Yan Ge raised the corner of his mouth proudly.

Huangfu Yuchen pulled him to stand up, "Let's go back; it's cold here. I was just discussing with them…"

The two chatted casually as they walked leisurely towards Tenglong Palace.

The atmosphere was calm, making it unbearable to disturb them.

Yalun Mansion in the capital.

King Zhong, Huangfu Yao, held a watering can, carefully tending to the flowers in the pots.

An attendant hurried over, moving swiftly but silently, not making any noise.

"Reporting to Your Highness, Huang Guiqing requests an audience."

"Huang Guiqing?" The name was like thunder in Huangfu Yao's ears, he never expected to meet him one day. He showed his surprise for a while before composing himself, "Please let him in."

"Yes."

King Zhong then said to another attendant, "Hurry and invite the Princess."

"Yes."

Yan Ge nodded repeatedly upon entering the courtyard. The courtyard was not small, but flowers occupied most of the space. It was early March, and many flowers were blooming in a riot of colors, making it a delightful sight. If there were some mist, it would be like a fairyland on earth.

Continuing along the path intentionally left between the numerous flower pots, he saw a man and a woman standing there with several attendants. The man was about fifty years old, with a pale complexion and a thin figure, but he seemed spirited. He was undoubtedly King Zhong, Huangfu Yao. The elegant and graceful woman dressed in the attire of the princess was probably his wife.

Huangfu Yao also sized up Yan Ge, and couldn't help but admire his appearance and demeanor.

He was graceful, good looking, had a good temperament and a kind heart. No wonder the Emperor doted on him so much. Huang Guiqing's aura was also formidable, and ordinary people couldn't suppress him, making him a perfect match for the Emperor. He only brought two guards and two palace maids on this visit, showing sincerity regardless of his status and purpose.

Yan Ge clasped his hands together and greeted them, "King Zhong, Princess Zhong, Huang Guiqing has been impolite."

"Greetings, Huang Guiqing," they replied.

As the ranks of Huang Guiqing and King Zhong were equivalent, only standard courtesies were observed.

Yan Ge respectfully waved away their greetings and smiled, saying, "My sudden visit is already an impropriety, yet King Zhong and Princess Zhong personally came to receive me. I am truly humbled."

"Huang Guiqing overstates. Huang Guiqing's distinguished presence warrants a grander reception. Please do not take offense, Huang Guiqing and come inside."

"Please, King Zhong, Princess Zhong."

Once seated in the hall and the maids had served the tea and left, Yan Ge spoke, "I've heard that King Zhong has a fondness for flowers. I've brought a potted camellia specifically for you to appreciate, Prince."

He signaled to Du Juan.

Di Juan unveiled what Gao Feng held.

King Zhong saw the flower in the pot and stood up in astonishment, "This is the 'Eighteen Scholars'!"

"I am not knowledgeable about flowers, but I've heard people say that the 'Eighteen Scholars' is a precious type of camellia. This flower's worth will be truly recognized in King Zhong's possession. I hope King Zhong will accept it." These Eighteen Scholars were bought from the system store and wefe really exquisite, with each bloom full of vitality.

"Thus…" King Zhong was enamored by the camellia, "Since that's the case, I must thank Your Royal Highness."

On returning to his seat, he said, "Huang Guiqing's visit must have more purpose than merely delivering flowers."

Yan Ge nodded, "There's a reason for everything, and indeed, I have a request."

King Zhong gestured, "Hehe, I didn't expect that I could be of assistance to Huang Guiqing as well. Please, Your Highness, speak."

Yan Ge got straight to the point, "I wish to ask King Zhong to resume attending court sessions."

"Oh?" King Zhong appeared both surprised and curious, "But I don't understand why."

Yan Ge explained, "King Zhong must be aware of the deep bond between the Emperor and Prince Dai. However, since Prince Dai's passing, I can't bear to see the Emperor facing the court alone each day. That's why I've ventured to make this request." Mentioning Huangfu Yuhu still stirred intense feelings within him, but outsiders were unaware and he had to conceal his emotions.

King Zhong was moved, and he nodded silently. It was evident that Huang Guiqing sincerely cared for the Emperor, "Huang Guiqing's concern for the Emperor is truly heartening. However…"

Yan Ge inquired, "Is King Zhong concerned about his health?"

King Zhong nodded, "Huang Guiqing must also be aware that my health has never been good. It's precisely because of this that I got the Emperor's favor to avoid early court sessions. I've lived the best of my life, and it's not that I fear death."

Yan Ge chuckled, "King Zhong may not be aware that I also possess medical skills."

King Zhong laughed, "Indeed, I'm aware of that. His Majesty is sympathetic and has long proposed that Huang Guiqing treat me, but I declined."

Yan Ge was puzzled, "Why is that?" It was probably because King Zhong declined that Yuchen didn't mention him.

King Zhong replied casually, "It's not just His Majesty; even the late Emperor had invited various physicians to treat me. They all said that this ailment is extremely hard to cure. Therefore, I surmise that even if Huang Guiqing could cure me, the medicine required would be extremely precious. Hence, it's better to reserve such medicine for those who need it more."

"King Zhong's principles are admirable, and I'm truly impressed." Yan Ge smiled faintly, stood up, and walked to him, extending his hand. "Why not let me give it a try?"

"This…" King Zhong saw Yan Ge's confident expression, as if he had a plan in mind, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart.

Princess Zhong nudged him discreetly, "My lord, if His Highness is willing, there's no harm in letting him try."

"Very well, then. Huang Guiqing, please." King Zhong extended his hand.

Yan Ge placed a few fingers on his wrist, squinting slightly as he carefully felt his pulse. His expression relaxed a bit, "It's better than I imagined."

King Zhong sat up excitedly, "Huang Guiqing, can you treat it? Oh, please, have a seat."

Princess Zhong clutched her handkerchief in excitement, looking intently at Yan Ge.

After sitting down, Yan Ge said, "I can treat it. May I ask, have the previous physicians instructed you to rest more and exercise less?"

"Indeed," King Zhong nodded, "Is there something amiss?"

Yan Ge explained, "It's not entirely amiss. It's true that those with heart palpitations should avoid vigorous exercise such as running, horseback riding, and climbing. However, basic physical activities are still necessary, like taking walks and normal walking, as long as you rest when tired. Over these years, King Zhong has been in a state of repose, lacking exercise, and his constitution has weakened slightly. But it won't hinder the treatment."

"Oh, Your Highness!" Princess Zhong heard Yan Ge's confident tone and couldn't help approaching him and clasping his hand, saying, "We…we will trouble you. You don't know that my lord has suffered much due to this ailment over the years."

"Princess." King Zhong gave her a reproachful look, implying she was being impolite.

Yan Ge held Princess Zhong's hand and smiled, "It's no trouble. Princess Zhong has a warm personality, which makes me feel close. Moreover, Princess Zhong is a compassionate elder, willing to be close to me; it's an honor for me."

Both King Zhong and his wife felt relieved on hearing these words.

Yan Ge continued, "Heart palpitations often have a familial tendency, making it easy to affect descendants. May I inquire if the prince and princess have this ailment? If they do, I can treat them together."

Princess Zhong couldn't help but wipe her tears, nodding repeatedly, "Not hiding anything from Huang Guiqing, the crown prince also has heart palpitations, though not as pronounced as my lord's. My lord and I often worry that it might worsen in the future."

King Zhong sighed and bowed deeply to Yan Ge, "Thank you so much, Huang Guiqing!"

Yan Ge evaded, "King Zhong's gratitude is excessive. I haven't brought my usual medical equipment today. I'll come again tomorrow."

Both King Zhong and his wife were eager to share the good news with their son, so after exchanging a few more words, they saw Yan Ge off.

"By the way, regarding this matter, I want to surprise the Emperor. I hope King Zhong and Princess Zhong won't reveal it beforehand."

King Zhong and his wife exchanged smiles.

"Rest assured, Your Highness."

Yan Ge felt a bit embarrassed. He nodded to them, then boarded the carriage back to the palace.

Huangfu Yuchen returned to the Tenglong Palace after the morning court session. Hearing that Yan Ge was in the laboratory, he went to the lab and knocked on the door, "Baby?"

"Wait a moment," Yan Ge's voice sounded muffled through the door.

Huangfu Yuchen raised an eyebrow; this was the first time such a situation had arisen. He couldn't help but be curious about what his beloved was doing. But he didn't rush; he patiently waited.

After about half a cup of tea's time.

"Baby?"

"Wait a bit longer."

After one cup of tea.

"Baby?"

"Are you still there?"

Huangfu Yuchen's forehead twitched, "…"

Deng Mande stifled a laugh.

After about one incense stick's time.

"Baby?"

"I thought you had left. Wait a bit longer."

Huangfu Yuchen could tell that Yan Ge was simply playing with him, deliberately keeping him in the dark. He could only say, "Alright, I'll go have a meal first. We're having hot pot for lunch today."

There was no response from inside, and he could only shake his head and leave.

Early the next morning, after Yan Ge had finished breakfast, he brought Du Juan and another palace maid named Hai Tang, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, and Lu Fei, to King Zhong's place.

King Zhong, Princess Zhong, and the crown prince Huangfu Yuhong were waiting at the entrance.

Yan Ge exclaimed in surprise, "What have I done to deserve the honor of making King Zhong and Princess Zhong wait so long?"

"This humble official greets Huang Guiqing," Crown Prince Yuhong bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities, Crown Prince," Yan Ge replied.

"Huang Guiqing, please come in."

"Please."

Because Yan Ge often roamed outside the palace, Crown Prince Yuhong had seen him before, but this close contact made him realize that this Huang Guiqing possessed extraordinary bearing. However, he was an outsider, so he refrained from staring and quickly averted his gaze.

Yan Ge sensed the fleeting glance that landed on him and he had a good impression of this crown prince who adhered to decorum.

Inside the hall, he got straight to the point. After examining King Zhong's pulse, he said, "The Crown Prince's condition is not necessarily the same as King Zhong's. I need to diagnose it by checking his pulse."

Crown Prince Yuhong respectfully bowed, "I'm indebted to Huang Guiqing, and I'm truly grateful."

Yan Ge then examined his pulse, nodded, and smiled at King Zhong. "The Crown Prince's condition isn't severe. King Zhong and Princess Zhong can rest assured."

Princess Zhong patted her chest, sighing in relief, "That's good, that's good."

Yan Ge took out two jade vials from his medical kit, "The root cause of heart palpitations lies in the weakness of the meridians connecting to the heart. These pills can help both King Zhong and the Crown Prince expand and strengthen these meridians. King Zhong, one pill, and the Crown Prince, half a pill. After about one incense stick's time, I will perform acupuncture to assist. This treatment every three days will lead to complete recovery within a month. You'll be just like any ordinary person."

King Zhong, Princess Zhong, and the crown prince were all overjoyed when they heard these words.

Especially the crown prince; he had always admired those who went horseback hunting, envying their experiences. But he'd never had the chance to participate because both King Zhong and Princess Zhong were concerned about his health. Now, thanks to Huang Guiqing, he felt a sense of rejuvenation.

"But…" King Zhong hesitated, "this acupuncture…" He was hesitant. After all, Huang Guiqing was a person of the emperor, and he and the crown prince were outsiders. It wasn't appropriate to reveal their bodies before Huang Guiqing.

Yan Ge quickly understood his concerns and smiled faintly. "Prince, you're worrying too much. I can perform acupuncture over clothing."

King Zhong didn't doubt it at all. Given the dangers of heart palpitations, even a slight mishap could prove fatal, but he believed Huang Guiqing must possess the necessary skills; otherwise, he wouldn't take such risks.

"I see, I was overthinking. Haha…"

Yan Ge clarified everything that needed to be said, "Since these pills are for expanding and strengthening the meridians, there might be a slight sensation of pain. However, it will be within a tolerable range. King Zhong, Princess Zhong, and the crown prince needn't worry."

King Zhong nodded and promptly took a pill, while the crown prince took half a pill.

As the pills reached their abdomens, they did feel the pain. Both King Zhong and the crown prince trembled slightly. Their faces turned pale, and tiny beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

Seeing this, Princess Zhong felt worried, but since Huang Guiqing had already forewarned them about this reaction, she refrained from asking. She didn't want to seem like she doubted Huang Guiqing's words. If he had the ability to cure her husband and son's illnesses, it was a great favor, and she didn't want to offend him.

"I'm fine," King Zhong chuckled.

The crown prince added, "I'm fine too."

Yan Ge still checked their pulses in confirmation, "Their pulses are normal."

Princess Zhong finally let out a sigh of relief.

After one incense stick's time, Yan Ge opened a silver needle case and deftly inserted the silver needles into King Zhong and Crown Prince Yu Hong's bodies.

King Zhong observed Yan Ge's skilled movements, noticing how his hands worked independently without interfering with each other. This increased his confidence and admiration for him. It was indeed a great fortune that such a talented person was born in Great Han.

Crown Prince Yuhong had milder symptoms. As the number of needles increased on his body, he quickly felt the pain lessening. Additionally, a vague warm current flowed gently through his body, making him feel warm all over. He couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as he looked at Yan Ge.

"How is it, Yuhong?" Princess Zhong inquired anxiously.

Crown Prince Yuhong reassured her with a glance, "I'm perfectly fine, Mother. His Highness's medical skills are truly remarkable. I feel very comfortable now."

Little did he know that Yan Ge's pills weren't ordinary pills; they were specially concocted with two spirit materials. Moreover, Yan Ge had infused a bit of true qi into King Zhong and Crown Prince Yuhong's bodies along the path of the silver needles. This helped them expand their meridians without causing pain. However, this cost a great deal of resources. Once King Zhong recovered, he would live a long life—living up to one hundred and twenty or thirty years wouldn't be an issue. Being young, Crown Prince Yu Hong would benefit even more. He would be free from major illnesses in the future and enjoy longevity as well.

After a short while, King Zhong also nodded in agreement, "I feel great as well."

At this point, Yan Ge had finished inserting all the needles. "Both of you can sit down now. Just don't move around recklessly."

After an incense stick's time passed, Yan Ge collected all the silver needles.

Both King Zhong and Huangfu Yuhong were covered in sweat, but they felt incredibly light, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their bodies.

Naturally, they expressed their gratitude once again.

"King Zhong, Princess Zhong, and the Crown Prince, there is no need for excessive formalities. I will come again in three days. During these three days, have light meals and avoid strenuous exercise, but it's alright to take a stroll," Yan Ge advised.

"Don't worry, we'll remember," King Zhong assured him.

Yan Ge's regular disappearances for half a day made Huangfu Yuchen quite frustrated. He asked, but Yan Ge would just mysteriously reply, "I won't tell you." Huangfu Yuchen found this situation both amusing and exasperating. He loved Yan Ge's lively demeanor, and even though he hadn't received answers after asking multiple times, he had decided not to inquire further. Whatever Yan Ge was up to, he would eventually tell him.

Moreover, he had been busy himself recently, and the busier he and Yan Ge were now, the sooner they would be able to free themselves from their responsibilities.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, King Zhong requests an audience."

Huangfu Yuchen blinked in surprise. He set aside the documents he was reading and stood up. "King Zhong? Please, let him in."

"Hoho…" King Zhong strode into the study with a hearty laugh, respectfully bowing. "This subject pays respects to His Majesty!"

"Sixth Uncle, please have a seat." Huangfu Yuchen walked over and supported him. "It's windy today. Why did Sixth Uncle personally come? A message through a messenger would have sufficed." While speaking, he examined King Zhong and was somewhat surprised. His complexion was much better than last time. He had a healthy flush, bright eyes, and an appearance that differed little from that of a healthy person. Thinking of Yan Ge's recent secretive behavior, he had a vague gues.

King Zhong chuckled and was in high spirits. "Your Majesty can't tell?"

Huangfu Yuchen understood and nodded affirmatively. "It's Xiao Ge." As for why Yan Ge had suddenly established a connection with King Zhong and secretly cured his illness, Huangfu Yuchen figured it out with a slight thought. The cool and distant gaze when facing outsiders softened unconsciously. Perhaps his beloved, whom he couldn't help but want to integrate into his bones, had hidden this from him as a surprise.

Seeing his expression, King Zhong smiled gently. "This old official will start attending court more often. Your Majesty, don't find me bothersome if I appear frequently. Hehe…"

"How could that be?" Huangfu Yuchen said with sincerity, "With Sixth Uncle sharing my burdens, I could not ask for more."

King Zhong remarked, "Huang Guiqing is not only brilliant and kind, but also wholeheartedly devoted to Your Majesty. Your Majesty and Huang Guiqing working together will undoubtedly achieve great accomplishments for generations to come, leaving an enduring legacy!"

King Zhong's high praise of Yan Ge filled Huangfu Yuchen with pride and satisfaction. He flashed a confident smile, his demeanor exuding pride for his beloved.

King Zhong had always been dedicated to the kingdom and had unwavering in loyalty. That's why he had been bestowed the title of "Zhong" (loyal) by the late Emperor. Under King Zhong's guidance, his crown Prince exhibited similar qualities. Now, father and son treated Yan Ge as their benefactor, which would only make them more loyal. With King Zhong sharing his concerns, the future would be much smoother.

That very day, Huangfu Yuchen prepared a decree to call King Zhong and Huangfu Yuhong back to court.

After dealing with King Zhong's matters, Yan Ge started to handle company affairs. However, he hardly managed the company's affairs nowadays. First, he had already earned enough money, and the kingdom's treasury was also abundant, so he didn't need to work for additional income. Secondly, national matters were more important to him now.

He gradually handed over all the company affairs to the competent managers he had trained, and only needed to listen to summary reports occasionally.

His energy was now focused on national affairs and the system. He was particularly interested in the new selling feature in the system store. He had put some ordinary soil on display and within a short time, he had earned 100,000 taels! Did money come so easily?!

As for who the buyers were and what they needed the soil for, he had no idea. The transactions were completed through the system, which was always honest. He had even joked, "Perhaps the buyers are people from other spaces, and to them, the soil from this planet is as valuable as gold."

As for why the buyers' currency was also silver, Yan Jin had explained that the system had a hidden "currency conversion" function. The buyers might not have paid in silver; the system automatically converted it for him.

Yan Ge silently praised the system for being user-friendly.

He didn't have much curiosity to investigate further, nor was there a need. As long as he earned money, that was enough.

However, when he put the soil up for sale again, no one bought it.

He experimented with other items and ended up staying in the company until late. The palace gates had already been locked but with his current ability, he could easily fly in, so he wasn't too concerned and leisurely packed up before leaving.

As soon as he stepped out of the company's gate, someone hugged his waist, and his butt was quickly pinched. Feeling the familiar aura behind him, he refrained from punching.

"Is it fun to ambush people?"

It was already dark, and there were no other pedestrians nearby, so Huangfu Yuchen directly kissed Yan Ge on the lips, "I wanted to surprise you too."

Yan Ge heard him say "too" and understood.

He asked Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, and Lu Fei to go back and just wait at the palace gate tomorrow morning, then the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder back to the palace.

It wasn't the first time Huangfu Yuchen picked Yan Ge up after work, but it was the first time they walked back to the palace after dark. It felt somewhat novel for both of them. They chatted as they walked, as if the road would never end, and the darkness wouldn't bother them. Because the person beside them was always by their side.

"Did you wait for long?" Yan Ge asked.

Huangfu Yu Chen said, "Not too long."

Curious, Yan Ge inquired, "Were you busy today?"

"Now that King Zhong's health has recovered, he naturally needs to come back to court as soon as possible." Huangfu Yuchen replied confidently.

Yan Ge chuckled lightly, not feeling too guilty. After all, King Zhong was still young, and it's fulfilling to have things to do.

Under the moonlight, Huangfu Yuchen looked at the smiling face and felt his heart racing. He glanced around, and seeing that no one else around, he pulled his lover into an alley to have a passionate kiss and explore his body with his hands.

Yan Ge widened his eyes. Was this the behavior an emperor should have?

Huangfu Yuchen thought to himself, 'it seems I didn't kiss him deeply enough.'

Soon, Yan Ge was so engrossed in the kiss that he couldn't think about anything else. He lifted his hands to embrace the man's neck, immersing himself in the joy the man brought him.

Huangfu Yuchen simply lifted Yan Ge and teleported them back to the Tenglong Palace.

Due to Huangfu Yuchen needing to attend the early court session, Yan Ge rarely woke up earlier than him. After waking up and seeing Huangfu Yuchen still asleep, Yan Ge found it strange.

Ever since they started sharing the same bed, Huangfu Yuchen would always hold him. Even now, his right arm rested on Yan Ge's waist, his expression calm and his eyes closed, appearing harmless.

Yan Ge playfully twisted Huangfu Yuchen's face, but there was no response. His eyes flickered, and he deliberately revealed a trace of killing intent.

Huangfu Yuchen woke up almost simultaneously, quickly pulling Yan Ge to his side and striking fiercely towards the direction of the killing intent with his left palm. His sharp eyes swept the room with lightning speed.

"My waist…" Yan Ge was pressed beneath Huangfu Yuchen, and felt like crying without tears. What playing a joke on Huangfu Yuchen? It was entirely self-harm.

"Baby," Huangfu Yuchen now understood what happened, feeling both amused and exasperated. He quickly embraced Yan Ge, giving him a slap on his buttocks before massaging his waist. As his hand touched the smooth skin, he continued, "Let's see if you'll dare to misbehave again."

Yan Ge raised an eyebrow, sat up, and gently patted Huangfu Yuchen's arm while smiling at him. "Lie down."

"What for? Isn't your waist hurting?" Huangfu Yuchen asked puzzled.

"Lie down," Yan Ge urged.

Huangfu Yuchen turned over and lay down on the bed. He turned his head and said, "Baby, lying like this is not good for that area, it will affect your happiness."

Yan Ge sneered, removed the offending garment that was under his foot, and knelt on the bed. He hugged Huangfu Yuchen's legs and pressed them in the direction of his back with force.

"Ah!" Huangfu Yuchen let out a groan.

Yan Ge laughed, then swiftly jumped off the bed, almost tripping on the bed curtains. With a quick and silent flip in the air, he landed silently on the ground.

Huangfu Yuchen straightened his legs in pain, slowly moving his waist as he stiffly turned his head. "Baby, you are really ruthless."

"Let's see if you slap to hit me there again," Yan Ge adopted Huangfu Yuchen's tone and said leisurely.

Under the flickering lights, his mischievous expression became more apparent. Huangfu Yuchen's gritted his teeth, and he slowly sat up while supporting his waist.

"Is it really twisted?" Yan Ge took two steps closer and asked with concern.

Huangfu Yuchen smiled. He wanted to trick Yan Ge over and slap him on the butt, so he nodded without hesitation.

However, Yan Ge's tone changed, "Then should I help you twist it back?"

Huangfu Yuchen: "…"

"Haha!" Yan Ge laughed joyfully. He flashed to the dressing table, and took a comb from the side to tidy his hair.

Huangfu Yuchen remained expressionless as he said, "I was planning to take you to a good place today, but I changed my mind now."

Yan Ge's eyes lit up. If Huangfu Yuchen said it was a good place, then it must be truly remarkable. He quickly moved closer to Huangfu Yuchen, sitting next to him on the bed. He leaned his head against Huangfu Yuchen's shoulder, "I was wrong. How about you twist my waist instead?"

Even though his submissiveness was a pretense, Huangfu Yuchen's heart softened. His indulgent smile flashed in his eyes as he pinched Yan Ge's face gently. He hoped his beloved would always be this happy.

"Twist it later tonight," he said with profound meaning.

Yan Ge stiffened.

Now Huangfu Yuchen couldn't help but laugh. He patted his leather belt, stood up to change clothes, but felt a momentary pain in his waist.

Yan Ge was startled and quickly supported him. "Did you really injure yourself?"

"I strained the muscle," Huangfu Yuchen looked at him helplessly.

Yan Ge gave an awkward smile. He watched him clutch his waist and felt a bit amused. He turned his head to the side to hide his smile.

Huangfu Yuchen shook his head. He summoned the palace maids to bring the wash tools. After the items were arranged, the palace maids performed a silent bow and withdrew.

Yan Ge finished brushing his teeth, cupped Huangfu Yuchen's face and bit his lips lightly "Today's first kiss!"

Huangfu Yuchen held the back of his head, kissed him fiercely and finally let go when he was satisfied.

Yan Ge licked his slightly painful lips, glared at Huangfu Yuchen and went to wash his face.

After finishing their morning routines, they had breakfast together. Yan Ge practiced martial arts while Huangfu Yuchen went to the court. Huangfu Yuchen would come back to pick him up after court.

On arriving at Taihe Hall, he found when all the officials had gathered, and the young crown prince was standing at the front of the line in his princely attire. He had been attending court sessions for a while now and occasionally assisted Huangfu Yuchen in handling governmental affairs, while his studies were scheduled in the afternoon. Under Huangfu Yuchen's strict requirements, the young crown prince had become very disciplined.

"Your Majesty has arrived—"

"Your humble subjects/son pay respects to Your Majesty. Long live, the Emperor/Father!"

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty/Father Emperor."

Deng Mande repeated the customary words as he had done for years, but his spirit was still vigorous. "If there is any matter, report, otherwise, court is dismissed—"

Minister Chen Guowei stepped forward, "Reporting to Your Majesty, last year's harvest taxes from various regions have been compiled. Thanks to the effects of the 'Maifan Stone,' agricultural taxes increased by thirty percent compared to the previous year. The average rice yield per mu increased by two hundred catties, which is truly gratifying."

Huangfu Yuchen smiled faintly, "Very good. All personnel at the Agricultural Experimentation Department will be rewarded."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

King Zhong stepped forward after him, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the development of Great Han Kingdom is thriving, and we need more talents. I believe it is necessary to open a new imperial examination."

His words received nods from several ministers. Currently, Great Han was flourishing in agriculture, defense, and culture. They often felt understaffed when dealing with their tasks.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "King Zhong's suggestion is reasonable. Now that it is already May, when would be the appropriate time to hold the imperial examination according to King Zhong?"

"Nowadays, various regions are connected by cemented roads, making travel convenient. However, the territory of Great Han is vast, and even the furthest provincial students would take nearly a month to reach the capital at a normal speed. In my opinion, the examination could be held in the late August," King Zhong answered confidently.

King Zhong had considered the matter of the imperial examination carefully, replying without hesitation and in an organized manner. "Setting the time more generously would not only facilitate our communication with the regions but also allow the students ample time to prepare. What does Your Majesty think?"

Huangfu Yuchen praised, "King Zhong has thought it through thoroughly. In that case, the imperial examination will be scheduled from August 21 to August 29. Students from remote areas will be subsidized for their travel expenses. The local officials will advance the funds, and the court will reimburse them afterward." With the treasury full, he would not be stingy when generosity was called for.

"Understood. Your Majesty's benevolence is a blessing to the people," King Zhong sincerely praised.

Huangfu Yuchen asked, "Does anyone else have anything to report?"

No one spoke.

Huangfu Yuchen said coldly, "Are you all done? There is one more thing on my side. I heard a few days ago that the Governor of Taozhou married four concubines within a month, and three of them were seen crying on the day they entered his household. I wonder which of you ministers is interested in investigating this matter and telling me this fascinating story!"

"Who is the Governor of Taozhou?" A somewhat puzzled minister asked the person next to him.

Several ministers secretly glanced at the Duke Lu.

"He is Duke Lu's brother-in-law."

Duke Lu's face had turned pale long ago. He anxiously stepped forward and reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I humbly volunteer to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Ever since his son started working for Huang Guiqing, he had made quite a number of achievements, gaining genuine friends in the process. As his father, he gained more fame, and more opportunities to be involved in government affairs. Naturally, his chances of meritorious service increased, and the Emperor had taken notice of him to some extent. Unexpectedly, his brother-in-law still failed to grasp reality and abused his status in the capital, behaving recklessly and even forcing himself upon common girls. Although the Emperor's policies had become somewhat lenient in recent years, he would never show mercy when punishment was due. He still ruled with an iron fist. It was ridiculous that his brother-in-law didn't understand this, digging his own grave! He only learned about the matter a few days ago and had intended to handle it before the Emperor received the news. Unexpectedly, the Emperor was informed so quickly, making him both impressed and alarmed. He was also secretly grateful that he never had any evil intentions or deeds.

Huangfu Yuchen snorted, "Very well, I'll be waiting for your report."

"This humble minister shall follow Your Majesty's command."

The young crown prince looked at his father, who was decisive in rewards and punishments, and his eyes shone with admiration. The seeds of worship gradually sprouted, growing into a sapling that would eventually become a towering tree.

With no one else reporting matters below, Huangfu Yuchen gestured to Deng Mande and left.

"The court is dismissed—"

Huangfu Yuchen returned to the Tenglong Palace, met Yan Ge, and they left the palace together.

Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, and Jun Xiang were waiting at the palace gate. They immediately bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Boss, Young Master!"

Along with them were Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and Wei Hao, all dressed in casual attire.

"Greetings, Boss, Young Master!"

Several inconspicuous carriages were parked on the side.

"Get in the carriage," Huangfu Yuchen said. He entered the front carriage, followed by Yan Ge.

Gao Feng and the others followed on horseback.

Yan Ge was intrigued by the mysterious and he asked, "Yuchen, where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there."

Not falling for it, Yan Ge calmly lay on his shoulder and said, "Then I'll take a nap."

Huangfu Yuchen: "…"

He could only pat Yan Ge's waist gently, sitting sideways to make him more comfortable.

The carriage left the capital and headed towards the outskirts, getting farther away from the city.

Yan Ge noticed that some guards occasionally looked back to check for any followers, and his curiosity was piqued. He looked up at Huangfu Yuchen, who looked as if he was waiting for him to ask, but he turned his head and focused on the scenery, determined not to inquire.

The carriage left the cemented road and headed into the deep forests of the mountains. Yan Ge became even more curious, so he flew out of the window and stood on top of the carriage, enjoying the breeze and admiring the scenery. He looked left and right, trying to figure out where they were going. This place was already dozens of miles away from the capital and quite remote. He had never been here before.

Jiang Gan and Luo Wei were shocked and the corners of their mouths twitched. 'Huang Guiqing, you are sitting on the Emperor's dragon head!'

They glanced at Huangfu Yuchen who was sitting by the window. On seeing the doting smile on his face, they kept their composure, and pretended not to notice.

After sitting alone on top for a while, Yan Ge became bored and returned to the carriage.

Huangfu Yuchen naturally made room for him. "Do you want to play chess for a while?"

"Okay." Yan Ge nodded.

The two played a few games of chess, and time passed quickly.

Soon, the carriage stopped.

"Boss, Young Master, we've arrived. We can only walk from here."

Huangfu Yuchen's stern voice came from inside the carriage, "Understood."

But no one came out.

Everyone dared not rush them and waited silently, knowing that the Emperor was playing chess with Huang Guiqing.

Sure enough, Yan Ge's gleeful voice soon rang out, "I won."

Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the chessboard and turned it around. "Yes, yes, you won."

The two got off the carriage.

Yan Ge faintly heard a few familiar explosions from deep in the mountains and couldn't help but ask, "Was that the sound of bombs?"

Huangfu Yuchen held his hand and led him up the mountain, "Yes. I've had a military base established here."

A military base! Yan Ge's eyes lit up.

Huangfu Yuchen continued, "The people inside don't have a chance to come out for a long time. In other words, besides them, only the people here know about this."

Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and the others understood that the Emperor's words were meant for them. If the news leaked, it would be their fault! They all froze in shock. There was no need to express their loyalty with words, they just had to show it with their actions.